Dr Leach’s talk reveals  the pre-Christian roots of hanging mistletoe, that turkeys didn’t  come from Turkey, why the robin is our favourite Christmas bird and the origin of the Yule log.  Best of all, it reveals just why we imagine reindeer can fly.

Dr  Leach is a zoologist who has worked as a wildlife author, photographer and cameraman since 1977. He has filmed TV documentaries, working on more than 100 programmes and has written 32 books on subjects ranging from big cats and owls to great apes and bears.