Welcome to my series of interviews with some wonderful people who work within the natural world, from zoo keepers, to museum curators and everything in between and those that are on the path to working in these positions too. Be inspired for a future where you can combine your love of nature with your day job. I hope you enjoy these interviews, that you can learn something from them and they can inspire you.

Now let me introduce you to Charlie.....

Name

Charlie Bingham

Age

32 

Location

Norfolk, UK

What do you do?

I'm a writer and also work in digital communications and event management for nature organisations and charities. 

How did you get into it?

The writing has been a process that I've been working towards my whole life. Since I was a child I've written stories, made them into little picture books and I just never stopped doing that! 

My other work, the digital communications and event management was something I fell into. After completing an degree, I got some work in social media for a company who had a chain of cocktail bars and cafes on the Welsh coast, and I managed to transfer that experience into my first role within the nature industry which was with the RSPB. Since then I've had the chance to work with some amazing charities and organisations!

What made you want to do what you do?

I love telling stories, so through both my writing and my communications work, I love to tell stories of experiences in nature. My goal is to help to make nature more accessible, so by sharing stories of people's journeys to reconnecting with nature, I hope to inspire others to do the same! 

What does it involve?

My days vary so much! Some days I'll be writing or heading into London for publisher meetings. Other days I'll be travelling to gather stories and visiting nature reserves (usually urban ones) to create content about urban nature locations. A lot of my time is spent sat behind a laptop creating social and marketing content and planning events! Sadly it's not all looking at birds and enjoying nature. A lot of it is done from my sofa at home! 

Did you need any qualifications? 

I don't think I needed any qualifications however, what I will say is that doing my degree as a mature student set me on the right path and showed me that there was a whole world of opportunity waiting for me. So while I don't think my degree necessarily got me to where I am, the things I learnt about myself whilst doing my degree and the confidence I gained during it, definitely played a huge part. 

Any tips for a young person that wants to do what you do?

Say yes to opportunity. Seek opportunity.  Ask for opportunity,  the worst they can say is no! You don't know what's waiting for you if you don't look for it. 

What is the best part of what you do?

I think the best part is knowing that I'm helping people who might not have ever noticed a bird before, go outside and look at the world through a new lens. 

What is the worst part of what you do?

Spending so much time sitting behind the laptop definitely gets me down sometimes but it's all  a necessary part of it! 

What is your favourite animal?

This is a hard question! I don't think I have one single favourite. Although I do have a soft spot for bonobos and chimpanzee!

What was the first animal that you fell in love with?

When i was a kid, my parents owned a boarding kennels so I grew up surrounded by dogs! We had 18 of our own huskies as well as looking after the dogs of people who were going on holiday. From a very young age I was involved in the care of these dogs and most of my early memories involve dogs! My mastermind topic would be unusual dog breeds! So i would say that, though not a wild animal, dogs really taught me a lot about caring for animals and about the unique personalities all animals have! Humans included of course! 

What is your favourite place in nature?

Remember, nature is all around us. We are animals and we are part of nature. My favourite way to experience nature is in the middle of big cities. I love being on the South Bank in London and watching the pigeons, or sitting in Kirkby market in Liverpool with the starlings, watching a murmuration in the middle of a town centre and walking around an urban nature reserve. It reminds me that at the end of the day we are as much part of it as the Robin singing from the hedgerow, and the earth worm carving it's way through the soil.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I am massive history nerd so a lot of my time is spent exploring national trust properties and researching my periods of interest. I also am a huge theatre kid so any opportunity to go to the theatre, you'll find me watching a musical! 

If you were not doing what you do now what else would you love to do?

I would always be writing. But if i wasn't in the nature world I would have continued along with my Archaeology degree and followed my passion for history. It's something I want to find my way back to and combine my two greatest loves, the past and the future.

Who inspires you?

The people around me who I am lucky enough to call friends. The people who work in the nature world and have taught me so much in the past few years. Those people who get up every day and bring their passion for nature with them everywhere they go. Their dedication and determination inspire me and fill me with the joy that I need to take with me on my journey. 

What are your hopes for the future?

For my own future, I want to keep writing. I have so many more stories to tell.

For the world? I want to keep harnessing the energy of the people I mentioned who inspire me, to keep growing the community of nature nerds who are determined to create a better future. Nature is finally becoming "cool" (i mean, its definitely always been cool), but that means now is the perfect time to share our stories and our love for the birds, the bugs, the plants, the life that breathes alongside us every step of our journey. 

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

Id love to take the opportunity to tell you about my first book which is being published in May 2025.

The Life Affirming Magic of Birds takes the reader through the twelve lessons i have learnt on my journey to reconnecting with nature. From grief, to the everyday things like the school run, the book shows the reader what I have learnt from the natural world and how I use those lessons to help me navigate the turbulence of life. It's lighthearted and, I hope, will connect with audiences who are in a place I was in a few years ago, not quite sure of my direction but knowing I needed something to hold onto. It turned out that nature was my something and once I found it, I never let it go. 

Where can people find you? 

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/charliebingham.bsky.social

Instagram: @_charliebingham

Preorder The Life Affirming Magic of Birds: https://geni.us/MagicOfBirds?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYcChZ9aUBhMjyq0LatqChmBGxcdfyF11mlMhR_hcD3KKjEcYoTJt-B_oI_aem_U9gzr00Kp7JdMvYEr3ZqZw