FORMER CRICKETING HERO IAN BOTHAM IN 'ECO-HYPOCRISY' BLAST FOR TV NATURALIST

                                          

Chris Packham - tour guide and climate change campaigner 

TV naturalist Chris Packham has come under fire from former cricket star Lord Ian Botham for promoting exotic holidays which generate hundreds of tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Lord Botham is dismayed that Mr Packham fronts up adventures to destinations such as Papua New Guinea and Alaska while at the same time campaigning on behalf of Extinction Rebellion - the climate change activist group which is opposed to long distance air and sea travel for leisure.

In an article in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, the former Test Match hero, now a crossbench peer, has accused the BBC SpringWatch presenter  of "grotesque eco-hypocrisy".

The £14,000 per person trips to Papua New Guinea and Alaska were run by Steppes Travel, a specialist company that “carefully creates pioneering journeys in the world’s far-flung places”.

On the website of another travel firm,  Spencer Scott Travel - which prides itself on its conservation safaris - Mr Packham says: "I’ve done lots of trips tour guiding for them (Cuba, Peru, South Africa, Botswana, Uganda) and they have all been of the highest order, well planned, great itineraries, excellent support and clients always totally satisfied. 

"They are a total pleasure to work for and I have loads of great memories to treasure as a result. Check them out if you want something special."

In his defence, Mr Packham has countered that Lord Botham harbours a personal grudge derived from a longstanding dispute between the pair over the rights and wrongs of driven grouse-shooting.

Although, the broadcaster is still featured in the publicity material for both holiday companies, it is understood he has since ceased hosting  excursions on their behalf and, where possible,  has trimmed his own personal and professional travel arrangements.

                                     

Lord Botham's controversial column

The Wryneck says: Travel, especially over long distances, is a sensitive issue for birders. For many of us, journeying far and wide to see new or exotic species has always been a longstanding part of the hobby. But we cannot bury our heads in the sand in the hope that others, but never us, will make the sacrifices required. In fairness to Chris Packham, since becoming a champion of climate change activism, he seems to have made himself less available for hire by  travel companies. However, given that climate change has been a global concern since before the turn of the century, it is regrettable that it has seemingly taken so long for his conscience to be tweaked.