Jonathan Cleverly has more than 20 years experience of keeping and breeding reptiles and invertebrates and has had a lifelong passion for the study of these animals and the world's wildlife in general, having been inspired by naturalists such as Sir David Attenborough and Gerald Durrell as a young child.

Jonathan is a qualified primary school teacher who has always enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm and appreciation of the natural world with children of all ages, having started doing so himself at an early age. 

    Photo courtesy of Roger Ogle, Swindon Link Magazine

Alongside his PGCE teaching qualification Jonathan also has a Joint Honours BSc in Zoology and Psychology and an MSc in Wildlife Management and Conservation, as well as a great deal of valuable experience of hands-on wildlife conservation, having volunteered in various conservation organisations.

Jonathan believes that everyone, and especially children, should be given the opportunity to meet and appreciate first-hand some of the amazing wonders of the natural world and to experience just a little of the incredible diversity of life on our planet.

Whilst Jonathan's workshops, presentations, displays and parties feature animals from his own collection of tropical species of invertebrates and reptiles, he is also always very keen to enthuse children about the UK's own wildlife and to get them interested in the wonders of nature in local natural areas and even their own school grounds and back gardens! 

Photo courtesy of Roger Ogle, Swindon Link Magazine