Media Enquiries – Garden Wildlife Expert

Sean Mcmenemy

For 25 years under Sean McMenemy’s guidance, Ark Wildlife has provided species specific food and habitats with an emphasis on ‘fitness for purpose’ and sustainability.

Sean is an expert in wildlife habitat design and manufacture, and has an unparalleled understanding of garden wildlife which dates back to a passion developed during his childhood. He is regarded as a leading authority on garden wildlife who can provide informed and honest opinions on the subject.

Specialising in British garden wildlife, Ark Wildlife has a wealth of knowledge and experience keeping up to date with the latest research, through industry and professional bodies. We pride ourselves on providing nutritional and environmentally friendly alternatives to poor quality high street wildlife products.

Ark Wildlife is the UK’s only supplier of specialist feeds such as red squirrel food and duck and swan feed. We are well-known for highlighting the plight of species such as hedgehogs and developing unique products for them, and campaigning for better standards in bird and wildlife food. We also supply a large number of wildlife charities and breeding programmes throughout the UK.

TV Work and Appearances

Sean has recently been working with the BBC as wildlife consultant for their British children’s animated CBeebies television series “JoJo & Gran Gran”. The show is based on the semi-autobiographical picture book by Laura Henry-Allain MBE.

The new season launches on Monday 14^th March at 5.25pm on CBeebies.

For more information on this series, please visit the official JoJo & Gran Gran page.

Radio Appearances

Sean regularly features on a range of radio shows across the country, sharing his expertise and passion for wildlife.

His recent radio appearances include:

Media Enquiries

Wildlife and its protection are very newsworthy these days and Sean can communicate his great understanding of the subject in an easy and accessible style, thanks to years dealing with the public and long-term customer relationships. We are in a unique position to provide journalists with advice, comments and information for editorial use.

Latest Press Release Headlines

Save our baby birds by building ‘love nests’, urges UK wildlife expert
UK wildlife expert shares tips on how birdwatching can be accessible for all
5 tips for upcycling Christmas waste to save our garden wildlife
Why you NEED to check your garden this Bonfire night – crucial tips to save hedgehogs
10 badger-watching hotspots in the UK and how to help them this autumn
The UK’s best nature reserves for wildlife spotting, according to Instagram
Nature makes children happier: How to encourage kids to spend time outside
Beautiful dawn chorus birdsong disappearing from UK cities
Park and beach litterbugs run risk of killing dogs with cigarette butts and balloons

Press Releases

Save our baby birds by building ‘love nests’, urges UK wildlife expert

Featured in The Express, Yorkshire Post and Gardeningetc

One in four UK bird species is under serious threat, according to the latest Birds of Conservation Concern report, and climate change is wreaking havoc with breeding patterns.

14th February marks the start of National Nest Box Week, when people are encouraged to give feathered friends a home ahead of the breeding season in early spring.

Sean McMenemy shares his knowledge on how to make and place nest boxes for birds. He says: “Feeding birds is rewarding enough, but nothing compares to watching a little bird take its first flight, especially if it’s from a nest box you put up yourself.”

UK wildlife expert shares tips on how birdwatching can be accessible for all

Featured in Bird Watching, Lancashire Times and Lincolnshire Live

Birdwatching is a fantastic way to engage with nature, have some fun and improve your wellbeing. However, many disabled birdwatchers miss out on this experience due to a lack of confidence and information.

According to National Parks UK, despite 20% of the UK population having a disability or long-term health issue, they make up just 9% of National Park visitors.

Sean McMenemy has conducted research on the UK’s best accessible wildlife spots along with compiling a list of top tips for disabled birdwatchers.

5 tips for upcycling Christmas waste to save our garden wildlife

Featured in Wales Online, Edinburgh Live and Hertfordshire Mercury

An extra 30% of rubbish is produced and discarded during the festive season, which can have a devastating effect on our wildlife. In fact, the RSPCA receives 5000 calls a year regarding litter and wild animals are the main victims, particularly birds.

Sean McMenemy provides insight into how the public can repurpose their extra waste from the festive period and transform it into something to help our garden wildlife thrive.

From using your Christmas tree as a multi-perch bird feeder, through to using branches as ground insulation for spring bulbs — Sean has plenty of great ideas to share.

Save hedgehogs this Bonfire Night by giving them ‘room to roam’, urges wildlife expert

Featured in Express Online, Country Living and Henley Herald.

With interest in hedgehog houses down by over 50% during the most treacherous time of the year, experts are urging the UK public not to neglect hedgehogs by creating ‘hedgehog highways’ in the garden.

Hedgehogs naturally roam through many different gardens whilst foraging for food, finding mates and seeking out shelter. They are in particular danger on Bonfire Night, as they can mistake bonfire log piles for shelters whilst roaming through the night. Since 2007, numbers of wild hedgehogs in the UK have halved, and there are now thought to be fewer than a million left in the UK.

Sean McMenemy says: “With their natural habitats being destroyed by urbanisation, our gardens are a crucial place of safety for hedgehogs, so it’s important that people do everything they can to protect them whilst celebrating Bonfire Night.”

National Badger Day is on the horizon — find out the most likely UK badger locations and how to safely support them in your garden

Featured in Country Living, Great British Life and Oxford Mail.

A study by Yates found that badgers have been around in Britain for half a million years and 25% of the European badger population is found in the UK.

Yet there is much we don’t fully appreciate about badgers, and this is why the Badger Trust is urging us to recognise the beauty of this protected species on National Badger Day 2021.

Sean McMenemy has conducted research on the most likely locations to spot a badger in the UK, and gives his tips on how we can observe them in the wild and safely support them in our own gardens.

The 10 most stunning UK nature reserves to spot wildlife this bank holiday, according to instagram data

Featured in Metro online, Daily Post, Northumberland Gazette and North Wales Pioneer.

Many people are embracing staycations this year, to feel the relaxing benefits of a holiday, but without the stress of going abroad. To satisfy the need for adventure, people are searching for activities during which they can capture unique photos. Nature reserves are ideal as wildlife and plants are protected to allow them to thrive.

Data has analysed over 150,000 Instagram hashtags from the UK’s most wildlife-abundant nature reserves. Gogarth in North Wales has been revealed as the UK’s most photogenic nature reserve with 845 pictures per hectare, followed by Ditchling Beacon in Sussex and Cornwall’s Looe Island.

Sean McMenemy says: “It is a joy to capture wildlife in action or a stunning sunset and to share these images to increase conservation awareness, but we don’t want digital photos to be all that is left if these habitats disappear. Maintaining wild areas across the UK to allow people to engage with wildlife is also good for our mental health.”

Nature crucial to wellbeing: 90% of adults agree natural spaces improve mental health, new data reveals

Featured in Yahoo!, The Herts Advertiser, Chester Standard and News & Star.

New data from the People & Nature Survey for England has revealed that while 90% of adults agree that natural spaces improve mental health, 41% said nature and wildlife has been more important than ever to their wellbeing since coronavirus restrictions began.

Of the 2,086 adults who took part in the survey in April 2021, 68% of them had visited a green and natural space within the previous two weeks – a 19% increase compared to April 2020.

Sean McMenemy says: “Spending time watching or walking in nature has been shown to benefit both mind and body. Sitting quietly in fresh air or walking in open spaces calms the mind and body, it balances our physiology and promotes production of positive hormones.”

Other National and industry coverage:

Red squirrel wildlife staycations: The 5 remaining locations in England to see the endangered mammal – Country Living
Bees in danger of becoming extinct in UK cities: how the public can help in their garden – Kitchen Garden & Horticulture Weekly
Lockdown leaves the UK’s ducks and swans at risk of starvation during breeding season – The Sun, Daily Star and The Mirror.