The Wildlife of Kate Humble 

Author & TV presenter enthralls Arts Centre audience on Swindon Lit. Fest Day 3

 

Swindon was glad Kate Humble took a detour from her normal route home to South Wales this evening.

 

Because in a charming hour of conversation at the Arts Centre as part of the Swindon Festival of Literature, the surprise subjects of discussion were as diverse as Madonna, the size of Barnacle's penises and a Cockerel called Roger.

 

"I've always driven straight by when I see the sign to Swindon on the M4," the former BBC SpringWatch presenter and author admitted.

 

"So this is a very pleasant surprise!"

 

Ms Humble appeared alongside Festival organiser Matt Holland to talk about her life exploring wildlife, travelling and her book - 'Humble By Nature' - that describes her struggle to save a threatened Council-owned farm in Monmouthshire, now her cherished home.

 

"The countryside really is my life," she told the audience, "and everything that goes with it."

 

"The farm is finally a place, after 40 odd years, I live that truly suits me. Like a pair of shoes that fit perfectly instead of pinching for all this time.

 

"I couldn't be happier."

 

Her passion for nature and wildlife was clear for everyone to see as she offered opinions and candidly answered questions on such controversial subjects such as rhino poaching, UN conservation policy and, closer to her home, badger culling.

 

"We all need to do what's best for the countryside overall," she commented, "for cattle and badgers, not one or the other."

 

But in a finale that summed up Ms Humble's humourous and incredibly likeable, down-to-earth personality, she was persuaded by Matt Holland to sign off with a rather naughty poem about a boy from Devizes.....

 

.... the words of which only the audience will know!