Pam Ayres

The much-loved entertainer, 76, on the wonders of grandchildren, otters and hares - and why she'd quite like us to stop talking about her accent

by DANNY SCOTT

What made you want to write about British wildlife? Your latest is a children's picture book about an otter, to be followed by more about a hare, a barn owl and a fox.

Some people write about fairies and spaceships, but I grew up in a village called Stanford in the Vale [in Oxfordshire], surrounded by wildlife. Trees, hedgerows, frogs in the pond, birds in the garden ... I felt directly connected to all this beauty. I hope these books can get today's kids interested in wildlife like I was. Sadly, I don't think the natural world plays as much of a part in most children's lives.

Recent studies indicate that our wildlife is disappearing. What can we do to stop that?