Meet The Founder

I am Connie, the founder of Wild About Britain. I have been fortunate to grow up in an animal loving household, with some of my favourite childhood memories consisting of herping and birding with my family. So it is no surprise that my passion for British wildlife began at an early age. I grew up with a variety of pets from dogs and cats to bearded dragons and rats. However my most prominent interests focussed on native birds and reptiles, and I had a particular fascination with birds of prey.

At the age of 16 I was lucky to become a regular volunteer for a well known wildlife rehabilitation centre, and quickly worked my way up to the position of specialist orphan feeder. I gained great respect from my colleagues there and loved being able to share my passion and knowledge with likeminded people. Working in wildlife rehabilitation gave me an incredible insight into a wide range of native species and the dangers they face in their day to day lives. 

At this age I also met my falconry mentor. I spent as much time as I could at his bird of prey centre, assisting with the training, husbandry and educational displays of various hawks, falcons and owls. I soon realised this is a hobby that will stick with me for the rest of my life. I completed my Lantra qualification in Beginning Falconry and one year later was surprised by my parents and mentor with my own bird, a hand reared tawny owl named Freddie.

After meeting my now fiancé at university, both studying animal related degrees, we started our own family and have our fantastic 5 year old son whose pure joy for the natural world inspires us daily to appreciate every facet of nature. We love raising our little wild child and witnessing first hand the incredible affect that animals can have on children. We are very lucky to share our home with not only the animal ambassadors of Wild About Britain, but a variety of other creatures including our beloved sphynx named Posie and rescue munchkin named Sausage.

As well as the daily running of Wild About Britain, I also enjoy a range of other animal related activities. I am often found in the heathlands of Surrey surveying our wild native reptiles (under licence) and viewing the spectacular birdlife of the British countryside. I also greatly enjoy attending social and educational events run by the Female Falconers Club, of which I am proud to be a member of. Crufts is another event I love to attend, indulging my passion for dog breeds and behaviour. You can also find my animals on social media, having a fairly large following on TikTok. 
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It recently became apparent to me that I had been unknowingly spreading my love of animals, particularly British wildlife, without even trying to. Many of my friends and previous colleagues have told me of their newfound appreciation of native animals since meeting me, and that their developing passion is also rubbing off on the people they know. This rippling affect of love for British wildlife is absolutely astounding to me, and shows how just one person can influence the bigger picture. Wild About Britain is my opportunity to spread my passion and knowledge onto others, who I hope will then inspire their friends, who will then inspire their friends etc. to notice the wildlife that surrounds us, learn to love our native creatures, and ultimately work together to conserve and protect our animals and their natural habitats.
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