Diary of a Young Naturalist

Diary of a Young Naturalist chronicles the turning of 15-year-old Dara McAnulty’s world. From spring and through a year in his home patch in Northern Ireland, Dara spent the seasons writing. These vivid, evocative and moving diary entries about his connection to wildlife and the way he sees the world are raw in their telling.

Diary of a Young Naturalist portrays Dara’s intense connection to the natural world, and his perspective as a teenager juggling exams and friendships alongside a life of campaigning. ‘In writing this book,’ Dara explains, ‘I have experienced challenges but also felt incredible joy, wonder, curiosity and excitement. In sharing this journey my hope is that people of all generations will not only understand autism a little more but also appreciate a child’s eye view on our delicate and changing biosphere.’

Author Biography

Dara McAnulty is a naturalist, conservationist and activist from Northern Ireland. He’s received many awards for his conservation work, including from BBC Springwatch, the Daily Mirror and Birdwatch magazine. He’s written and presented numerous natural history programs for BBC radio and television, and is an ambassador for the RSPCA, the iWill campaign and the Jane Goodall Institute. Dara is the youngest-ever recipient of the RSPB medal for conservation. He lives with his family and Rosie the rescue greyhound at the foot of the Mourne Mountains in County Down. Diary of a Young Naturalist is his first book.