Former Tomorrow’s World presenter-turned author and environmentalist Philippa Forrester can remember first flagging climate change, global warming and its impact, as if it was yesterday.
But that was a quarter of a century ago. Unpredictable and extreme weather patterns and a higher rate of extinction were on the cards back then. With little done in the interim to tackle the problem she says the terrifying predictions of 25 years ago have come home to roost. But there’s still much we can do.
Forrester, also known for presenting TV’s Robot Wars, took a second degree in environmental conservation and it feeds into all the work she does.
The mum-of-three, who has just published the children’s book Amazing Animal Journeys, tells P.S: “It’s all playing out now. We are not in a good state, environmentally. We are doing huge amounts of damage. Every one of us needs to pull our weight and change things.
“We can all do something. Even if it’s just planting a bush on your balcony to help a pollinator get along buildings.”
And getting our children off screens and outside, and instilling in them a passion for the natural world, is a major step forward.
The presenter is now back living in the UK after a six year stint in the US’s Wyoming with her husband and teenage sons, and says: “Getting children off screens has been a battle for my generation from day one.
“When Covid hit, it was like a licence for children to be on screens as much as they liked – for school, for social life.”
While living in Wyoming Forrester, 54, had a number of close encounters with bears, wolves and even a charging moose, and says it’s good to be home. “I don’t have to worry about grizzly bears when I take the dog for a walk through the woods,” she smiles.
“That said, I do miss the thrill of the wild.”
Instead she is answering its call with her new book which centres on migrations and journeys of all creatures great and small – from butterflies and spiders, to wildebeest, Siberian tiger and African elephant.
Forrester, who has three sons – Fred, 22, Gus, 19, and Arthur, 16 – with wildlife cameraman Charlie Hamilton James, says: “When the boys were small, I did a live programme for Radio 4 once a week about animal migrations. It was the first live natural history programme called World On The Move, and I’ve never forgotten it.”
Forrester is doing more work off camera these days, writing and editing conservation programmes, and coaching environmental groups on storytelling. She also hopes to do further TV projects, pointing to what she believes is decline in ageist attitudes towards female presenters.
“Now you see older women all over the place – on TV and in politics,” she smiles. “Things are changing for the better, but not quickly enough.”
Philippa Forrester – Amazing Animal Journeys, DK, £20
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