James Fair

Wildlife journalist

James Fair writes about wildlife conservation and broader environmental issues for a wide range of publications, including BBC Wildlife and BBC Countryfile magazines. James started his career as a journalist in the early 1990s, then spent a number of years working on conservation projects in South America, including an ultimately doomed effort to reintroduce an orphaned Andean bear cub into the wild in Bolivia. In 1999, James joined BBC Wildlife as a commissioning editor, while later filling the roles of staff writer, environment editor and keyboard destroyer-in-chief. In 2018, he went freelance, and now takes on a range of news, feature and report writing assignments, and is also the editor of the membership magazine of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). In 2019, he published his second book, 100 Great Wildlife Experiences: What to see and where.

Britain's rivers at risk of becoming 'dead zones' due to booming chicken industry

Industrial chicken production in England and Wales has risen by the equivalent of one million birds per month for the last decade, putting rivers in at least seven counties at risk of becoming 'dead zones deplete of wildlife', according to a new report by the Soil Association.

The Corryvreckan whirlpool: Why this "freak of nature" is the most terrifying whirlpool in the world

James Fair explores this mesmerising – and dangerous – natural phenomenon, as well as many other astonishing marvels wrought by the tides around the British Isles

Wolves versus wild cattle – the story of the battle to rewild Britain’s countryside

Predators or plant-eaters? Conservationists are divided as to whether wolves or wild cattle will best restore our natural ecosystems. James Fair enters the fray

Giant, 8m-tall fungi known as prototaxites once ruled the land. The world of moulds and mushrooms is full of surprises, says Merlin Sheldrake

Mushrooms are not only strange and intriguing, they and other fungi are vital to life on Earth. James Fair finds out more about this astonishing group of organisms from biologist and author Merlin Sheldrake.

Corncrake: identification, sound and habitat

Learn more about the rare corncrake (Crex crex) , including how to identify and conservation efforts in this BBC Countryfile Magazine expert guide.

Highland cattle guide: what they are, where they live and how to see them

Discover the Highland cow breed, where they live and what they are used for in this comprehensive guide