Huge congratulations to Chris Packham, who yesterday collected his CBE for services to nature conservation.
[Chris with his partner, Charlotte Corney]
In the afternoon there was a reception at London Zoo where family and friends gathered to celebrate. But on a day that should have been all about Chris and his achievements, he made it a day about everyone else instead, telling stories about past adventures and name-checking all those who have helped him along the way.
There are lots of photos online from the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and Chris holding his medal for the cameras, but that’s the public Chris Packham – his TV persona, his natural defence strategy, protecting himself from the ills of this world.
Here’s the private Chris Packham – modestly, and uncomfortably, accepting the applause of his friends and family, cradling a box of private letters written from us to him, to counter the mountain of hate mail and abuse.
A national treasure? No doubt about it.
Congratulations, Chris, the reluctant superstar of nature conservation, and thank you for everything you do.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Congratulations Chris. What a great day for you and Charlotte. Thanks for all your hard work and us animal lovers all have your back. Thank you.
Dear Chris, many congratulations on the award of your CBE. Very much deserved. Increasingly so, I turn to you, Wild Justice, RPUK etc for hope, your brilliant campaign work and ability to make change happen. Whilst there’s no doubt that some of our NGOs do great work, we need people like you to hold them to account and to scrutinize the actions of our statutory conservation agencies. Thank you for all your hard work. You give me hope that positive change is possible with enough noise. And there’s lots of noise to shout over! I’m in awe at how much you get done. No doubt lots of sleepless nights… thank you and congratulations again!
A wonderful achievement for you and all your supporters.
Congratulations, Chris – well deserved! I hope future generations will remember and thank you, Ruth and Mark (and others) for being able to see a hen harrier in the uplands in the UK, the swifts continuing to return from Africa and the countless other species that need our help. Your bravery and putting your heads above the parapet is making this happen.
I cannot think of anyone who deserves recognition for his bravery and his hard work on behalf of wildlife more than Chris Packham. He personifies more than anyone else what commitment to a cause looks like. We are very fortunate in this country to have someone who stands up for the rights of living creatures. I hope that he will inspire other people to follow his example and challenge the powerful forces in this country that put profit before conservation. Well Done Chris.
Thank you Chris for all that you have done and continue to do for our wildlife. For being prepared to stand your ground in the face of all the abuse and hate that is directed your way. And, perhaps most of all, for being a friend and role model to the next generation of conservationists. Congratulations on your award.
It must be said , I’m not a great fan of our honours system there have been far too many “Buggins turn” for retiring politicians and senior civil servants. That said there are hugely deserving exceptions to this, Chris is an outstanding example of those folk and those of us who have been lucky to meet him know that the real Chris and the TV/ public persona Chris may inhabit the same body but are very different. I have huge admiration for his work rate, his total commitment, knowledge and willingness to fight for the changes our wildlife needs. Congratulations Chris, I know that this will be used to further the cause of wildlife through all the things you do and support. You are most deserving of this award, we all know this and as said above we are with you to support and stand with you against the denigrators, cyber bullies and countryside sports thugs.
Great tie Mr P!
There is little I can say that’s not been said above.
All I can do is echo it all and Thank God for Chris Packham
Well done Chris, and keep fighting you are doing a wonderful job.
Well done Chris, you deserve this, thank you for all you do for nature conservation.
Great Stuff, well deserved.
Thank you for all you do, not just from me, but from my grandchildren also. They will inherit the world we are shaping, and without folk like you it would be a dire legacy.
I’m going to say “Congratulations” again, but the word isn’t really sufficient for someone who shows such total commitment to Wildlife and Conservation… Someone who works so hard, cares so much (even midst cruel opposition), and inspires so deeply (makes us get up and do something!). You are a ‘Hope-bringer’, Mr.P, who commands tremendous affection and respect, and we so need you ! Thank you for everything you’ve done, and everything I know you’re going to do… Thank you for being you, Chris !
Well done Chris you’re our ‘Top Bloke’.
A true hero. A bigger man than all the gutless scum who abuse him put together.
There aren’t words sufficient to say how grateful we are that you put your neck on the line for nature. So I’ll just say thank you, very, very much.
Chris truly is a wildlife hero. His bravery, dedication and morality just is incredible.
Thank you for being such an inspiration and giving so many people hope that, together, we can change the sorry state of this world.
Keep up the great work!
Chris, you are definitely a “National Treasure” (NatTres)
Great work Chris, without your work the slaughter would continue. You have made people sit up and take notice. Keep up the good work.
Well we all knew Chris deserved the CBE. Chris’ Book is Excellent. More sparkles. Well done and truly deserved
Congratulations Chris – so well deserved!
Ignoring the very few idiots who send you hate mail (and other things) you have a HUGE body of supporters for the phenomenal work you do for conservation and for being so bravely outspoken about the challenges facing our natural world. Please, please don’t ever get bowed by the vociferous, bigotted few; always remember there are thousands if not millions of us out there who back you all the way and who will do what ever we can to help. We salute you!
Well deserved Chris. Digging the XR tie, where can I get one?
So pleased to see you being officially recognised for all your amazing work, Chris. We think you are pretty amazing, courageous and dedicated in your continual battle for nature conservation. We all thank you so very much for all you do – and who you are. Congratulations!
Congratulations Chris . I have enjoyed watching all of the programmes you have presented over the years. And will continue to do so. Wishing you continued success in everything you do. Xx
Well deserved Chris. You have been a huge inspiration to me from as far back as when you appeared on The Really Wild Show with your bleached blonde hair. It is this inspiration that has seen me achieving an environmental degree and become a raptor worker. Well deserved.