The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - The Telegraph Magazine
My Saturday
Chris Packham
The wildlife TV presenter and conservationist, 59, on walks with Sid and Nancy, daily weigh-ins and planting trees
7am I’m woken by my miniature black poodles, Sid and Nancy, jumping on my head. I put on my dog-walking uniform – an old fleece and green Dockers trousers – and stumble into the woods. I live in the New Forest and the woods are my real home; I feel more comfortable there than anywhere else. 8.45am I have a modest breakfast: tomato juice, vitamin tablets and a piece of sourdough with vegan spread – I’ve been vegan for three years. 9.30am Last summer I moved to a house with about three acres. This winter I’ve planted over 100 trees and put up 30 blue tit and 10 tawny owl nest boxes. I’m locked down with my stepdaughter Megan, 25 [a zoologist], and partner Charlotte, who usually lives on the Isle of Wight where she has an animal sanctuary. 1pm I never stop for lunch, particularly when the days are so short. I sometimes have an oatmilk hot chocolate between tasks. I weigh myself every day and like to be less than 80kg. It’s not about looking good, it’s about feeling good. 2pm I plot out my new book – a love story about dogs and nature – or process some photographs. My Canon EOS R camera is converted to infrared and I’ve been experimenting with pictures of spiders, butterflies, bees and fungus. 4pm My morning and evening dog-walking routine includes putting bait out for foxes, badgers, buzzards and mice at the sites where we’re putting the cameras for Winterwatch, which I’ll be presenting with Megan from a farm in the New Forest. 6pm My sister and I take it in turns to Facetime my 87-year-old father, who lives half an hour away in Southampton. He’s been my biggest worry, but he’s much more chipper now he’s had his first vaccine jab. 7pm In the evenings I hang pictures. Charlotte and I have different ideas about decoration; I like very bright colours – my front room is a riot of yellow, red, blue and green. 9pm I’m not a cook and rely on Charlotte for dinner. I rarely drink anything but white wine but not if I’m working the next day. Midnight I go to bed and read until half one. I’ve just bought The Interest by Michael Taylor, about the abolition of slavery in the UK.
Winterwatch continues on BBC2 on Tuesday at 8pm