Lara Broom
Born and raised in Lisbon, Lara has a degree in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, and a masters in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (CIBIO-InBIO). Her master thesis was inserted in the long-term project studying a Sociable Weaver population in South Africa, where she was lucky to spend two field seasons. In 2014, Lara moved to the United Kingdom where she worked for the RSPB for a year and a half in the Membership department. In 2017, Lara started working for a company specialising in nature tourism, where she had the opportunity to organise and be a part of birdwatching excursions to Madeira, Azores, Spain and Colombia. She is now working for the Portuguese BirdLife partner – SPEA – where she is responsible for organising and guiding birdwatching excursions across Portugal, as well as, day walks, and participating in fairs and other birdwatching events.
Lara is currently using the MM4 60 GA ED/45 c/w HDFT 15-45x
Follow Lara on Instagram @lara_broom_birds
Jon Mason
Jon is an experienced speaker, writer and photographer who has been teaching geography for over thirty five years at a large secondary school in north London. He is a birder and naturalist and can be found on Instagram and Facebook as theearlybirder. Living on the edge of the Chilterns, he also leads walks, specialising in bird song identification for beginners. He is particularly passionate about empowering people to do something positive for nature in the spaces around them, either as individuals or community groups. Whether it’s creating meadows, planting hedgerows or simply planting a windowbox with wildflowers, putting up nest boxes or feeding the birds, he believes passionately that we can all make a difference. He has spent the last year visiting every single reserve managed by his local wildlife trust, BBOWT.
More details about his writing and images can be found on his website theearlybirder.co.uk
Maika Camero
Here are a few introductory words from Maika:
"My name is Maika and I am from a little town in the south of Spain. All my life I have been connected to nature in some way. Every week, me and my father would walk throughout the place where he was born, surrounded by Holm Oaks, and the traces of different animals such as Wild Boars. In my life I have searched to be close to nature, even when I have worked in places like hotels, I have directed my job to bring nature closer to the clients.
Today as a tour guide, I bring people to see the Iberian Lynx in one of our Natural Parks. I also work with children, which gives me the opportunity to show them nature in the field, teaching them not only about big animals, but also about birds, insects, and smaller animals that many times go unnoticed.
My aim is to engage people with the environment that surrounds us, so we can appreciate the big and the little things that make up our world."
Follow Maika on Instagram at @mai.camero and @maikawiii
Izzy Fry
Here's what Izzy has to say about who she is and what she does:
"Hey! My name is Izzy Fry, I am a 16 year old aspiring wildlife conservationist and amateur wildlife photographer from Wiltshire. I love all aspects of wildlife and the natural world, but especially birds - I am a trainee bird ringer, farmland bird surveyor and absolutely love to go birdwatching at my local nature reserves.
I have had an interest in nature and wildlife ever since I was young, but recently my passion has really blossomed and I now work to inspire a love for the natural world in more young people! I use my Instagram account to inspire more people and to show young people that you don’t have to be weird or nerdy to have an interest in wildlife.
At the moment I am preparing for my GCSEs this summer and then next year I will be studying Environmental sciences, Geography and Biology for A levels. In the future, I would love to study wildlife conservation and ecology at uni and then go on to have a career in conservation".
You can follow her on Instagram @izzyfryphotography.
Meg Stone
Meg joins our ambassador scheme as an Opticron user: "I am delighted to be an Opticron ambassador as I have used their products to enhance my wildlife watching experience for years!
Since I was very young, I have been an avid birder and when I am not at work, I can be found birdwatching on our wildlife-friendly farm or volunteering at my local nature reserve with their bird surveys, at events or as a warden.
More recently my interest in moths and fungi has increased and as I am an amateur wildlife photographer and science communicator, I use social media to share my wildlife sightings.
Since graduating from university with a BSc (Hons) in Animal Biology and MSc in Applied Ecology, I have got a job as an Ecology and Environment Consultant for an international consultancy based in West Yorkshire."
Follow Meg on Instagram @meggstonee and on Twitter @MegStone4.
Alice Marlow
This is what Alice told us about herself: "I am a 19 year-old Zoology student currently based at the Penryn campus in Cornwall. I enjoy nothing more than sharing my love and enthusiasm for nature and being outdoors, especially with young children who seem particularly receptive to the joys of British wildlife. I volunteer for a number of wildlife non-profit organisations in different capacities, including both youth engagement and more hands-on field work. For me, it is incredibly important to combine leading research with conservation practices and inspiring the next generation."
And here's what she thinks about her Opticron binoculars: "I have been using my Discovery WP PC’s for a month now and they have totally revolutionised the way I watch wildlife. I have been out most days, using them for nest recording surveys for the BTO and have been amazed by the clarity and detail of the birds I am spotting through them. I also love how lightweight and compact the binoculars are which is ideal when you are out in the field carrying them all day."
You can follow Alice on Instagram @alicegmarlow.
Past Ambassadors
Miles Cluff
Here are a few words of introduction from Miles: "I’m a Chemical Engineering student at the University of Manchester. For me, the best way to spend my spare time is exploring the natural world, with an aim to encourage more people to be aware of what’s on their doorstep and how they can help to protect the limited amount of green spaces we have left.
I’ve been a very keen birder for as long as I remember, and in more recent years, an amateur photographer and artist of birds. I believe art can capture a moment in time better than any photograph could, which is why painting wildlife has become so important to me."
Miles is currently testing and using the Aurora BGA VHD 8x42 binocular.
You can follow Miles on Instagram @milesbirdstheisles and on Twitter @miles_cluff.
Sophie Bell
I'm Sophie, a conservationist, keen wildlife photographer and content creator from Manchester. After studying BSc Animal Behaviour & Welfare and MSc Zoo Conservation Biology, I'm currently working for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust as a Communications Officer, where I get to create content about our local wildlife and raise awareness around environmental issues. I'm always out and about on our nature reserves taking photos, so my Opticron binoculars will be an essential addition to my kit - helping me to spot the more elusive species that might otherwise go unseen!
Follow Sophie on Instagram @adayinthewildlifesoph.
Ben Armstrong
Ben joined our Ambassador scheme in April 2022.
"Hi, I'm Ben Armstrong, I am a 16 year-old A level student currently based in West Yorkshire. I love all nature but especially birds, I remember the little things when I was younger like hearing my first cuckoo or seeing my first fox cub that has really developed my interest. Recently I have volunteered at Greenhead park doing a regeneration project planting trees. I feel like most people my age haven’t had the opportunities to admire nature so I try to appeal via social media. I can’t wait to work with Opticron and use the optics to enrich my nature experiences."
Follow Ben on Instagram at @ben_armstrongs_photos and on Twitter at @BenArmstrong24.
Harry Coghill
A few words from Harry:
"Hello. My name is Harry Coghill and I’m a nature photographer and naturalist from West Yorkshire. I’ve always been interested in nature and birding my local patch has become a huge part of my life. I really enjoy creating lists and giving my data to the BTO to help build a picture around the species declines. I volunteer at Cromwell Bottom LNR which is my local nature reserve. Opticron has helped give me a platform to spread my passion with other like minded people. The optics allow me to collect my data much more accurately."
Follow Harry on Instagram @cogs.photos and on Twitter @cogsphotos.
Lauren Eyles
Based on the Gower Peninsula, Lauren Eyles is an Ocean Conservationist, presenter, writer, speaker and Sea Watch Foundation regional co-ordinator for South Wales - a charity protecting Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in the UK. Lauren has over 15 years of experience working in citizen science and engaging communities in a range of marine topics from cetaceans, worms on the rocky shore and marine litter.
Lauren has appeared on BBC Blue Planet UK, Coast, Blue Peter, Newsround, Springwatch, BBC Breakfast, Countryfile and numerous local and national radio stations talking about the impacts of plastic pollution on wildlife and people, marine stranding's and sightings of Whales and dolphins. Lauren is using a Marine 2 7x50 IC binocular and an MM4 77 GA ED angled scope with SDLv3 zoom eyepiece.
Follow her on Twitter @EylesLauren, on Instagram @eyleslauren, on Facebook or visit her website here.
Emily Cooper
Emily is an Environmental Bioscience graduate who currently works in communications for a freshwater conservation charity. In her free time, she is a keen amateur photographer, and cherishes nothing more than the opportunity to spend time surrounded by nature.
She notes: "I am totally in love with my Savanna R PC binoculars. They have helped me to connect with nature on a level which I previously didn't know was possible! They take me into the heart of the action, without disturbing the wildlife I love".
Follow Emily on Twitter @ohdeeremily and on Instagram @ohdeeremily.