The Natural Stuff

Welcome to the natural history website of Jonathan McGowan

Specialisms and Interests in Natural History: I specialise in taxidermy and as a naturalist with a lifetime experience of watching animals I tend to be a perfectionist when it comes to my mounting of wildlife. They have to look realistic, and in a typical posture as if frozen in time and looking like a photograph of the animal taken in the field.

Since my early years I have been involved in environmental issues, including habitat maintenance on local nature reserves, recording of local wild life, biological surveys and research. I joined Bournemouth Natural Science Society in I998, and was made Chairman of the Zoology Section, and started giving lectures on many scientific disciplines, mainly Zoology. I am currently deputy curator of the museum and a trustee and was president in 2007. I currently give lectures on many subjects, not just to the Society, but I also give presentations to other institutions such as schools and universities on zoological subjects on all kinds of related natural history subjects. As an all round naturalist I can lead field trips, talk or lecture within most other disciplines.

I am actively involved in education. To this end I lead field trips and give presentations in schools, colleges and societies. I have given talks and workshops in primary schools which have included mini beast hunts, pond dippings and other related activities. The areas have included ecology, natural history, biology and conservation. Within the science curriculum Living Things And Their Environment l teach about local animals and plants. I cover life processes, growth, nutrition and reproduction.

The Big Cat Phenomenon has been in the news for some forty years now and I have been actively researching the evidence not only in Dorset but in other parts of the country. I have taken part in television news, documentary programmes, radio, newspaper reports, and magazine articles, contributed to books, websites, collected photographic and physical field evidence. My BIG CAT BLOG is intended to keep a log of sightings and provide an opportunity for comment and discussion.

Alongside my practical activities I have acquired a vast collection of photographs of the flora and fauna of the Dorset area. I have included a small sample of the total in this website.

You can contact me by clicking here for further details of my areas of study or if you are interested in my taxidermy. My prices are competitive and the quality is second to none.

This website is designed to reflect my natural history interests, current activities and will be regulary updated.

NEW BOOK FROM THE BNSS: The Natural History of Bournemouth and the Surrounding Area