WHILE most children enjoy playing football or riding bikes in their leisure time, as a youngster Russ Hedley was taking a walk on the wild side.

He loved nothing better than digging out worms from his garden and watching the birds that visited his home in Lostock.

The Bolton News columnist's love of wildlife began at an early age and for as long as he can remember he has enjoyed exploring in gardens, parks, woods and nature reserves.

From bird watching to bug hunting, Mr Hedley, who writes the weekly Nature Notes piece for Saturday's Weekend supplement, thrives on the outdoors and hopes to relay his passion to youngsters across Bolton through his wildlife education classes for schools and organisations on British nature, wildlife and conservation.

Mr Hedley, aged 26, said: "My love of wildlife started at a very young age. I don't have one particular thing I enjoy, I love everything from birds, plants, mammals — the lot.

"My parents have always been very outdoorsy, so I suppose it's in my genes. I've just always loved nature. When I was younger my dad and I would go on a walk and bring all sorts of things back with us to show mum, who would be equally fascinated. I loved looking at anything from a red deer to a common slug.

"I used to do a lot of bird watching with my dad. That is the easiest thing to get involved with — especially if you know what you're looking for."

Mr Hedley, who now lives in Astley Bridge, continued with his hobby into his adult life, going to the University of Cumbria to study research conservation before moving towards education.

He said: "After finishing uni I didn't know what to do. I did some volunteering and worked with exotic pets that people couldn't look after anymore. A school teacher came in one day and asked whether anyone would do a talk, so I volunteered, and it's expanded from there.

"Wildlife is everywhere but I love working with primary schools and getting a whole class of kids excited about looking for insects, birds or plants. Bolton is great for all these things and has some fantastic parks and reserves to hunt out different species.

"The classes I teach have a curriculum link. I'm doing lots of nature activities at the nursery where I have been working for about two years — we've been pond dipping, looking at insects and looking at the local bats. I love nature, but it also helps that I love kids too. They're so eager and get excited about doing things, which is great.

"As it turns out, the nursery I used to go in Horwich, Croft House, had a local nature reserve near there, which I loved as a kid. I go back there now to teach the youngsters there and hopefully spark their interest in nature."

His Nature Talks and Walks service offers presentations, educational workshops and training days for schools and community groups across the borough.

To find out more about how children can get involved in nature, visit naturetalksandwalks.co.uk or tweet Russ @Talks_and_Walks.