Wild about Bath was founded by Ann Stuart and Christine Absolon in 2021.
Ann was formerly a Biology teacher and has always thrived on being outdoors. Now she enjoys learning more about moths by trapping them in her garden, and exploring the countryside and byways of the south side of Bath. She loves to share her enthusiasm for the natural world with others. Ann stepped back from running Wild About Bath in 2023.
Christine is a retired medical doctor and knows for herself the importance of nature and community in our wellbeing. She loves wildflowers and all the local fauna and tries to make her garden a welcoming place for wildlife and people. Christine stepped back from the day-to-day running of Wild About Bath in 2022, but still enjoys organising the annual photography competition.
Aims
The spring of 2020 helped us realise afresh the restorative power of nature close to home and gave us the opportunity to spend more time nurturing it. Neighbours came to know each other better and helped each other out. Our neighbourly Whatsapp group started spontaneously posting photos of previously unnoticed wildlife that we were spotting in our gardens. ‘Wild about Bath’ is a project that sprang out of that time and out of a deep enjoyment of and concern for nature.
The project is founded on Christian principles and values, however those from all faiths and no faith backgrounds are equally welcome to join in.
All the team live in the Bath area. Most are volunteers, but in February 2022 we employed Cat McAlpine as our Part-Time Manager.
Cat's role is to keep us all in order, update the website, reply to emails, and manage events, amongst other things. She likes all things wildlife, but has a special affinity for bats and invertebrates.
Cat McAlpine
Part time manager
Simon has had a life long fascination with birds. He found this exhausted house martin in Monkton Combe and was able to help it on its way.
Simon Stuart
Wildlife Guide and Treasurer
He loves to nurture oak seedlings for a couple more years before planting out - Mark then likes to look forward to the next 500 years.
Mark Bagott
Garden and Wildlife Guide
I spend a lot of time in nature and love to take photos. I understand the benefits of being in nature and am always promoting this. I know my local area so well – watching the Roe deer is my favourite thing.
Tania Orgill
Events and Wildlife Guide
Sue likes to keep her eyes wide open for wildlife when out walking and in her garden. Previously a primary school teacher, she loves learning more by chatting with others.
Sue Monk
Events Coordinator
Ann enjoys exploring the countryside on the south side of Bath and seeing beauty and diversity in small creatures like bumblebees.
Ann Stuart
Founder
Claire is a primary school teacher currently teaching pre-school children. She loves nature, particularly cute creatures, beautiful scenery and flowers and fungi! Her passion is getting children learning in and about nature, loving it and caring for it.
Claire Stuart
Children's Events
Every day Christine sees new things in the mix of wild and cultivated flowers and other wildlife in her garden. Her wildlife camera recently showed up visiting foxes.
Christine Absolon
Founder
Wildlife and gardens go together for Jane.Without snails, hoverflies and worms there would be no food for birds, no pollinating insects and therefore no garden at all.
Jane Stickland
Garden Guide
James has lived in the Monkton Valley for many years and delights in finding many of our special local orchids at the time and in the places where he has so often seen them.
James Bradbry
Wildlife Guide
Laura is currently ‘rewilding’ her garden and is especially hoping for hedgehogs to take up residence.
Laura Sheppard
Graphic Design
Jenny has had 3 swift boxes on her house for a few years but is still waiting for them to nest. She does spot them screaming overhead as they arrive from Africa in late April.
Jenny James
Data Anaylsis
Paul enjoys the surprises of spotting the creatures that visit his garden pond including newts, toads and dragonflies.
Paul Maxwell-Cook
Newsletter Contributor
Sheila has recently enlarged her pond and is excited to see how quickly new inhabitants are colonising, with pond skaters being the first arrivals.
Sheila Watters
Garden Guide