I remember being asked this question on the Isle of Rum in 1994. I had just started my Masters degree in Conservation at University College London. Fourteen of us were staying in the servants quarters of Kinloch Castle. I was quite an ideological 24 year old and I think managed to rattle off nine reasons ranging from the moral, scientific and economic. I was pleased with myself for being so thorough.
Dr Brian Wood, my tutor, looked at me a little quizzically and said with a straight face, I look forward to marking your essays. He then said that he worked in nature conservation because he liked going to beautiful places.
His answer has always stuck with me. While there is still a moral purpose behind what I do, I think the search for beauty, inspiration and wonder is as good a motivation as any. Having kids only reinforces this.
I want the beautiful places in the UK which are full of wildlife to continue to inspire and I want there to be more beautiful places for me, you and our kids. Whether it is the Norfolk coast, the Lizard, the Farne Islands, the Great Orme, the Mourne Mountains or the Uists, you will all have your favourite places to go and watch wildlife.
Beauty and wonder are, of course, the draw of wildlife documentaries and especially David Attenborough's latest series, Africa. It puts into the shop window some of the most extraordinary places and wildlife spectacles on the planet.
The latest episode about East Africa brought back fabulous memories for me. I was lucky enough to travel and do survey work in Africa in the 1990s. I watched the episode once on my own and again with the kids (fast-forwarding the gruesome/harrowing bits). We pulled out the photo albums and chatted about the Rwenzoris. Of course, I would love it if my kids had the chance to visit Africa. If they remember to turn off the lights and standby switches, maybe in 15 years they will have saved enough carbon to warrant the flight.
In the meantime, I'll continue to try to show them the best of the UK. Alas, any attempt to explore some beautiful places in Suffolk this weekend was slightly curtailed by the freezing temperatures.
Which reminds me, I must harden up those kids...
Fair point, Nightjar. And I'm lucky enough to work at the Lodge so don't need to go anywhere...
Nice for Brian but it wouldn't be doing any of us much good with you in your present job - when the man who really runs the Government, Francis Maude, apparently is happy to describe himself as a Philistine. I fear the answers you gave are proving much more useful despite the love of beautiful places.
There's another big question - why travel so far ? And that is one we can and are tackling - I've spent most of today on Ham Wall and it is beautiful, and its new and, seriously it is driven by Bitterns & climate change. Today Mark Avery blogged about Rainham Marshes - why shouldn't we all have nature right on our doorsteps, even closer than Ham Wall ( 1 hour away) let alone Rhum !