HE is the famous TV naturalist who is in his element in the great outdoors surrounded by wildlife.

But Hampshire celebrity Chris Packham has announced that he will take on this year’s X Factor winner in the battle to reach the coveted Christmas No.1 spot.

The nature expert will swap the birds and bugs of the New Forest for rock and roll to raise money to protect badgers.

Chris, a wildlife campaigner and punk fan, hopes to top the chart with a charity single The Present of Life.

The video features the BBC Springwatch presenter on the drums. Joining him is weather forecaster Michael Fish on the guitar.

Wildlife documentary maker 86-year-old Sir David Attenborough and Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank also feature in the music video.

The song, which will be released on iTunes from December 7, has been produced by Isle of Wight-based eco-friendly clothing firm Rapanui.

Money raised from the single will go to the Badger Trust, which campaigns against badger culling.

Chris, who got a degree in zoology from the University of Southampton and was a former pupil of Taunton’s College and Bitterne Park Secondary School, said: “The battle for the coveted Christmas No.1 spot is always tough but one we are ready for. It will be difficult going up against The X Factor but we’ll give it a good shot.

“It would be an amazing achievement.”

The 51-year-old, who has previously sneaked the titles of songs by David Bowie, Manic Street Preachers, The Cure and The Smiths into links on TV shows, added: “Science shows the cull isn’t the answer. If we supported farmers more and bought their produce, perhaps they’d lend their ear to environmentalists a little more easily.

British consumers can help British badgers by supporting British farmers.”

Rob Drake-Knight, who founded the clothing brand which won the RSPCA Good Business Awards, said: “It was a great coup getting the likes of Chris and David on side.

Hopefully they can help us to hit the No.1 s p o t and stop the badger cull at the same time.”

Plans for the badger cull, due to have taken place this year, were postponed until 2013 after more badgers than anticipated were found in two areas selected for pilot trials.