NATURALIST and broadcaster Chris Packham has visited the Pensychnant Nature Conservation Centre near Conwy.

The BBC TV Springwatch presenter was at the site on Friday as part of his UK Bioblitz campaign, highlighting the dangers to UK wildlife.

During the campaign, he and a team of experts will, over 10 days, visit 50 wildlife sites in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, demonstrating the extent to which the nation’s wildlife is under threat.

The Bioblitz campaign has a scientific purpose. The results of this 2018 audit will be recorded to create a benchmark; this will help measure the rise and fall in numbers of different species in the future.

Packham met members of the public and was treated to a tour of Plas Sychnant, where he said: “Wales, as a whole, is a fantastic place for wildlife.

"There are less people living there in some parts. It has had less pressure put upon it in intensive agriculture or development; some parts are almost wilderness like.

“The extensive coastline is invaluable as well as, both for marine life on the coastline and in the sea and for what is on the shore.

"Economically, it is very important; eco-tourism, with people coming to see wildlife, is very important.

“Because tens, hundreds and thousands come every year and spend a lot of money in the economy, it is very important.”

After his visit to Conwy his programme was scheduled to take him to Ceredigion, Powys and Newport, before going on to other locations in England.

Speaking about the campaign via his website, he says: “The UK is home to remarkable and beautiful wildlife and some wonderful habitats but it’s also in big trouble, and in the case of some species this means we are fast approaching the last chance to make a difference.

“I want the 2018 UK Bioblitz Campaign to be a detailed and complete wildlife audit, a 10 day snapshot of the state of our wild places and what lives there. It will celebrate some conservation successes but also reveal some of its failures.

“It will show that nature reserves are not enough and it will prove we need a healthier wider environment – a healthier countryside.”