Challenge two: Find out what the public really think of the Autumnwatch presenters

After the high-tension show watching on tues night, and of course the excitement of squirrel speed spotting, I chose to take up Louise’s rather more sedate challenge yesterday of finding out exactly what the Brownsea public think of Bill, Kate and Simon in terms they would understand. Louise set me this challenge - survey 30 visitors and see how many of them can name the Autumnwatch presenters. Then ask them to pick an animal they think each presenter would be.

Just before I get on to that, a little challenge one update. Today in 35 minutes walking the island I counted not 6, but 24 red squirrels! Whilst yesterday I opted for quality, there are clearly a great quantity of squirrels out there to be seen as well.

So, back to our visitors.

Thanks to the Autumnwatch effect, and no doubt half-term fun, the island has been absolutely buzzing this week. Luckily for me this means there were no shortage of people to accost, especially towards the end of the day as they queued for the boats, battling against the icy weather in valiantly British style - “sleet? what sleet?”.

The good news is that out of my 30 participants, only 2 had no idea who the Autumnwatch presenters were - obviously Bill, Kate and Simon hold a special place in the heart of the Brownsea visitor. Gordon however has yet to earn his right to our affections, with only one person remembering his part in the show and deciding he was called “Roger? Alan? Oh I don’t know, something like that.”

Moving on to animal personalities, the answers were far less clear. Diversity reigned supreme, but the overall outcome was, unsurprisingly that Bill and Kate were both red squirrels (good to see the squirrel love sweeping the country) and Simon was a fine handsome stag of a man - “Now Simon, he’s my favourite he is, so handsome, such a lovely voice.” Though Bill as badger and Kate as a beautiful gazelle came in a close second followed by the suggestion that “Bill, he would be a porcupine I think, and Kate, well obviously she’d be a curly haired giraffe wouldn’t she.” Would she?! I can’t say it’s entirely as obvious to me, but perhaps I’m missing something here...

Thank you to all our lovely visitors for being so game! Challenge two, completed.

Bring on three!

Andrew - after careful thought and consultation with the wild-food guru’s here on the island, I’m going to take up your challenge of living on foraged food for the day. Head warden Justin and Boatman Mike are going to help me forage Brownsea and I'll record the whole thing for our podcast next week, so do subscribe now to make sure you don’t miss it. Due to a decidedly rank day today, the foray will commence next week.

I’ll leave you with a little comment of Justin’s earlier today, which sets the stage nicely for a day of foraging fun and games next week.

Me: “As long as it won’t make us ill Justin I’m game”
Justin: “Well, it might Martha, but why not live a little eh!”

uh huh.