TV presenter to give climate talk at Brimpton Village Hall

A highly anticipated climate seminar is coming to Brimpton next weekend, hosted by a popular television personality.

British entomologist George McGavin, a regular on the BBC and the Discovery Channel, will be speaking at Brimpton Village Hall on Saturday, April 29 between 11am and 1pm.

And visitors will have the chance to hear his free expert talk on the changing nature of biodiversity, the study of all life on Earth.

Many native species are in danger of extinction due to climate change. Dr McGavin's talk, entitled 'Looking after God's Acre: Barren Boneyard or Garden of Earthly Delights?', aims to shed some light on how everyone can make a real difference in their own local environments.

The event is being run by the Aldermaston & Woolhampton Benefice Eco-Church Group, an organisation of local climate activists and their supporters which has been running for about a year ago now to promote a greener future for the West Berkshire area.

Richard Foster (Lib Dem, Thatcham Colthrop & Crookham) said: "The rector for the Benefice of Aldermaston asked me to join a group she was setting up called the Eco Church Scheme, driven by the Church of England, which has cottoned on to the urgency of climate change.

"This is the first talk to get people in the wider community together to hear about one aspect of looking after the environment, protecting habitats and species we might lose, particularly insects."

The event will begin with refreshments from 11am, followed by Mr McGavin's talk at 11.30am and time for questions at 12.15pm.

"We decided as part of our activities we would try to put on some lecturers of an environmental nature," explained Laurence Harwood, professor emeritus of Organic Chemistry at the University of Reading.

"George and I are friends. I approached him and he agreed. He's an amazing and highly entertaining speaker. He's an absolutely committed environmentalist and an enthusiast for telling people about the natural environment."

The venue has a 60 person capacity, and the organisers hope to fill it.

Tickets are free, but numbers are limited. Please contact Brenda Scott on mrsbscott@btinternet.com or 0118 971 3113 to book your place now.

Mr Foster added: "I think it will be a very good talk. It's a case of seeing how this one goes, but I do hope we will have more."