WHY BIRDING AND WILDLIFE ARE A TURN-OFF FOR MOST INNER-CITY CHILDREN

David Lindo - call for diversity in how wildlife is presented

WHY does birding attract the interest of so few people from Asian or other ethnic communities?

The issue is addressed by regular columnist David Lindo in the latest of the RSPB’s quarterly magazine, Nature’s Home.

Lindo, an expert birder, author, broadcaster and tour guide, is himself of Caribbean descent, so his observations are particularly valid.

He comments: "It's shocking to learn that one in nine children from ethnically diverse families has never set foot in a park."

However, he goes on to note that people - especially children - of all races who live in deprived areas shun nature "due to the misbelief that nothing lives there except pigeons and anything wild is in the middle of the boring countryside or on David Attenborough programmes".

He suggests that TV shows about wildlife are a turn-off for many urban kids - of any race - as they don't identify with their middle-class white presenters.

What can be done? 

In his article, Lindo does not come up with specifics other than to maintain that "education" is the key.

He urges: "Expose kids of all backgrounds and their families to nature - teach them to love the environment."

As he states, there is plainly a role not just for the media but also for wildlife organisations.

"They should reconsider how they target their viewers and readers,"he concludes.