English zoologist, conservationist, photographer and television presenter Megan McCubbin knows a thing or two about nature.

As well as all the above, she’s also the stepdaughter of naturalist and wildlife activist Chris Packham, with whom she’s hosted Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch for the BBC.

Packham was a guest of BridLit in 2019, where his talk was enjoyed by a packed audience at Bridport Electric Palace.

Together, they wrote the book Back to Nature: How to Love Life – and Save It, described by Gardens Illustrated as ‘rousing, polemical and heartfelt’ and published in 2020.

They have co-hosted Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch on BBC2 since 2020. In 2021, they co-hosted Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer for the BBC.

And in 2022, McCubbin, a passionate science communicator and biodiversity activist, joined the presenting team on Animal Park.  

Her interest in wildlife stems from a childhood growing up in and around the Isle of Wight Zoo, which specialises in the rescue and rehabilitation of ex-circus and pet trade animals. She is the founder of The Self-Isolating Bird Club on X, formerly known as Twitter, and co-founder of Wildlife Rebellion.

A keen photographer, in 2019 she was appointed as the coordinator and judge of Young Bird Photographer of the Year

McCubbin will be at the Electric Palace on Saturday 11 November at 4pm to talk about her book, An Atlas of Endangered Species: Stories from the Brink of Extinction – and the Fight for Survival, 

Around 55,000 animals and plants are thrown into extinction every year and in this beautifully illustrated collection, McCubbin speaks to scientists and conservationists fighting to reverse the mass extinction. 

From changing shark legislation and tracking deadly fungi, to homegrown glow-worm farms, the methods for protection of survival are endless, whether it’s the infamous northern white rhinos and the Sumatran orangutans, or lesser-known icons like lady slipper orchids. McCubbin appeals to us all to join the battle against extinction.

Jack Ashby, writing for The New Scientist, says: ‘McCubbin’s mini-anthology of animals at risk is full of striking tales, including ones about snow leopards and partying orcas. It should provide a powerful motivation for concerned humans.’

McCubbin will be interviewed by Dr Sam Rose, who looked after the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site for 15 years. He retrained as a photographer in 2019 and a previously unknown passion for interviewing led him to podcast rewilding, his other area of expertise.

For tickets, go online or contact Bridport Tourist Information Centre on 01308 424901.