Hello weirdos! In 2025, the Telegraph published an article about my Queer Ecology work calling me a parasite. So like all good parasites, it’s time to SPREAD SPREAD SPREAD!
I am going on a little trip across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland (sorry Wales) to spread some queer nature joy.
BELFAST – Tuesday 2nd June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
SLIMBRIDGE PRIDE IN NATURE FESTIVAL– Saturday 6th June – Tickets.
BRISTOL – Saturday 6th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
SLIMBRIDGE PRIDE IN NATURE FESTIVAL – Sunday 7th June – Tickets.
MANCHESTER – Monday 8th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
GLASGOW – Tuesday 9th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
EDINBURGH – Wednesday 10th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
YORK – Thursday 11th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
BIRMINGHAM – Friday 12th June, 6:30pm – Tickets.
What is Queer Ecology?
For me, the act of “queering” ecology is to challenge the perceptions of what we consider to be “natural” or “unnatural” and to explore the biases that affect how we see the natural world. Growing up as Queer person, I was told that being Queer was “unnatural”, and it’s this type of misguided language that is still used today in the persecution of the LGBTQ+ community. In reality, nature is so much more bizzare, fluid, and weird that we can begin to comprehend, and that’s what I try to show to everyone who joins my tours. We’ll be searching for non-binary slugs, parthenogenic woodlice, bisexual flowers, and a whole lot of parasitism! At the end of the day, the only thing that is universally “natural” is being a little bit weird.
About me:
I’m an ecologist and entomologist, mainly specialising in beetles. I’ve been working as a nature guide since 2014 and started leading queer ecology tours in 2022. Since then, I’ve had over 3,500 people join these weird little tours that the Telegraph seem to hate, and many thousands more that have joined my webinars and lectures. I’ve also curated exhibitions and garden trails about this. However, the majority of my tours have been in London, so I have decided to go on a little road trip to explore new places and meet more weirdos!
How come the tours are free:
Most of my queer ecology work is self-funded. Despite this, I always try to ensure my queer ecology tours are free or subsidised because I want everyone to be able to come and enjoy nature and meet people like them. If I had been able to go to events like this when I was younger, I probably would have been much kinder on myself. I don’t do this to make money, I do it because it’s something that I care about. If people would like to support my work, you can help to spread the word (like a good parasite), buy me a coffee, or buy my merch on etsy.
Why is this important?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual or Queer (LGBTQ+) people have historically experienced inequalities in access to, and enjoyment of, nature and outdoor spaces. We are also living through a biodiversity and climate crisis, with many people suffering from mental health challenges on top of this. By bringing Queer people into their local natural spaces, I want to give them 3 things:
1) the opportunity to meet likeminded people and build community.
2) the ability to identify new plants and animals, because being outside and noticing small details in nature can benefit mental health. We also need more people advocating for natural spaces and helping to conserve them.
3) the understanding of just how diverse and fluid nature really is, and that if we consider the scale of weirdness found in nature, being queer is actually quite mundane and pretty normal.
Join me at other Queer Ecology events:
‘Snail Trail’ with Bi-Curious George – Oxford University Museum of Natural History – 9th May 2026
Explore the Natural History Museum after hours for a chance to talk to Connor about Queer Ecology, before Bi-Curious George’s legendary show, Snail Trail. Tickets
The Birds & the Bees: Queer Ecology of London Wetland Centre – Wildfowl & Wetland Trust – 17th May 2026
For the third year running, join a guided nature walk around London Wetland Centre, on behalf of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. Tickets.
Queer Cyanotype Printmaking Workshop – London Wetland Centre – 21st June 2026
Celebrate Pride Month with a creative cyanotype workshop exploring the beautifully diverse and wonderfully queer side of the natural world. Tickets.
The Birds & the Bees: Queer Ecology of Barnes Common, London – 24th June 2025
Join a guided Queer Ecology walk around Barnes Common, in West London.
Tickets.
The Birds & the Bees: Queer Ecology of London Wetland Centre – Wildfowl & Wetland Trust – 12th September 2026
For the third year running, join a guided nature walk around London Wetland Centre, on behalf of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust. Tickets.
