TELEVISION PRESENTER NICK BAKER WILL HOST EVENING EVENT AT HALESWORTH ARTS FESTIVAL 

August 2014, London - Nick Baker will be sharing his enthusiasm for weird and wonderful creatures of the world at an evening performance hosted by World Land Trust (WLT) during Halesworth Arts Festival at The Cut on Friday 24 October. 

Although Nick Baker lives in Devon he has already been drawn to Suffolk this year as a member of BBC2's Springwatch team, which was based at RSPB Minsmere Reserve. He is due to return in October as a guest of WLT. 

During Springwatch's three week run in June, Nick presented Springwatch Unsprung and charmed viewers with his obvious delight in discovering and observing some of the more obscure forms of wildlife found on the reserve. 

“I have great memories of my time at Minsmere during Springwatch 2014 and I just wish I'd had more time to tell people about some of the other extraordinary wildlife we captured on film,” he told us. “It is a real treat to be able to come back to Suffolk in October and talk about my favourite creatures and help raise awareness of World Land Trust during Halesworth Arts Festival. This is a charity I totally support and I'm looking forward to being involved in a scientific field trip with WLT and the University of EastAnglia next year.” 

Nick is a naturalist and TV presenter notably on the BBC's Really Wild Show and Nick Baker's Weird Creatures.  He is the author of books such as Bug Book and Bug Zoo, which are aimed at the budding bug enthusiast. Nick is a specialist in invertebrates and an honorary lecturer at Exeter University where he contributes to a range of events, lectures and seminars for students and staff within the College of Life Environmental Sciences.

As a WLT supporter, Nick shares the Trust's mission to defend wild places. In early 2014 Nick made a field trip to Paraguay with John Burton, WLT Chief Executive. Out in the field he saw for himself the rich biodiversity of the Gran Chaco, and the threat it faces from deforestation. He plans to take part in a joint WLT/University of East Anglia scientific expedition to the Gran Chaco in 2015. 

Nick will be appearing as part of Halesworth Arts Festival on 24 October 2014. The event, Nick Baker's Weird Creatures, is suitable for all ages including families and children. During the evening, he will talk about some of the weird creatures he has encountered on his travels to remote corners of the globe and why he is so fascinated by them. 

Tickets for Nick Baker's Weird Creatures on 24 October 2014 at 7.30pm on sale from Halesworth Arts Festival website. Proceeds from the event will support WLT's conservation work in Paraguay.

For more information on World Land Trust, visit www.worldlandtrust.org.

 [ENDS]

For more information please contact:

McCluskey International 

Judy McCluskey / Sarah Salord / Jessica Meins

T: 020 8747 2170

E: worldlandtrust@mccluskey.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About World Land Trust (WLT)

World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity, which protects the world's most biologically important and threatened habitats acre by acre. Since its foundation in 1989, WLT has funded partner organisations around the world to create reserves, and give permanent protection to habitats and wildlife. The mission of the World Land Trust is: To protect and sustainably manage natural ecosystems of the world; To conserve their biodiversity, with emphasis on threatened habitats and endangered species; To develop partnerships with local individuals, communities and organisations to engage support and commitment among the people who live in project areas; To raise awareness, in the UK and elsewhere, of the need for conservation, to improve understanding and generate support through education, information and fundraising.

Interviews:Nick Baker will be available for interview in person on the day of the event and by phone/Skype before the event. We also have a limited number of complementary tickets. To arrange an interview or to reserve a press ticket, contact Jo Leverett, WLT's Events Manager, jleverett@worldlandtrust.org.

Anniversary Events: Nick Baker's Weird Creatures is one in a series of events hosted by WLT's Patrons and high profile supporters in 2014 to celebrate the Trust's 25th Anniversary. Other 25th Anniversary events include Controversial Conservation with Chris Packham in London on 2 September 2014, and David Gower & Friends in Norwich on 3 September 2014.

Halesworth Arts Festival: Now a major force in the arts in North Suffolk, Halesworth Arts Festival attracts capacity crowds every October, who enjoytop quality performancesin small, intimate surroundings. The festival is a charity and relies on the generosity of many local businesses and individuals essential to help fund an event of this nature. Run entirely by volunteers both on the organising committee and at the venues,the festival receives no Arts Council, Lottery or other central government support. Festival Patrons: Bernard Hill, Maggi Hambling, Diana Quick, Kenneth Sillito and Julia Blackburn. More atwww.halesworthartsfestival.org.uk/index.

Image caption and credit: Nick Baker holds up a toad on a WLT field trip to Paraguay in February 2014. © Andrea Ferreira

Note: the image is for single use only in coverage of Nick Baker's Weird Creatures on 24 October 2014