Today Sir David Attenborough was awarded the Rothschild medal in recognition of the extraordinary inspiration, leadership and support he has given to The Wildlife Trusts federation of charities, Including Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, over the past 60 years.
Profound thanks to Sir David Attenborough for championing UK nature, say The Wildlife Trusts
Sir David Attenborough has been awarded the Rothschild medal in recognition of the support he has given to The Wildlife Trusts and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust over the past 60 years.
From left to right: Craig Bennett, Najwa Favaro, Sir David Attenborough, Bobbi Benjamin-Wand, Liz Bonnin - Photo © Broni Lloyd-Edwards
The medal was awarded at a small celebration at London Wildlife Trust’s Crane Park Island Nature Reserve this morning. It was given to Sir David by Charlotte Lane, grand-daughter of the Honourable Charles Rothschild and daughter of Dame Miriam Rothschild, pioneering conservationists in whose name the medal was created.
Charles Rothschild founded the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves which would later become The Wildlife Trusts. He was ahead of his time in recognising the need to protect natural habitats in order to save the wildlife that lived there. His daughter, Miriam, was a visionary scientist who dedicated her life to the natural world.
Sir David Attenborough credits Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust’s Tilton Cutting Nature Reserve with giving him his love of the natural world – he would explore it and search for fossils there as a young boy. Since then, Sir David has gone on to form a long association with The Wildlife Trusts, visiting and championing their work across the UK for six decades.
It is a huge honour to be given a medal carrying the Rothschild name and I shall treasure it greatly.
In 1985 he took on the role of Chair of British Wildlife Appeal and commenced a gruelling 14-day nationwide tour of 12 Wildlife Trusts raising £50,000 with his talk, Travels of a Naturalist. Five years later, with support from the future King, HRH The Prince of Wales, Michael Palin, and many others, the appeal raised over £16 million – nearly £40m in today’s money.
As well as taking on the role of President of The Wildlife Trusts and later, President Emeritus, David has played a major role in leading campaigns and helping The Wildlife Trusts to mark a huge number of significant moments. From his opening of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Attenborough Nature Reserve in 1966 to opening London Wildlife Trust’s Woodberry Wetlands and Essex Wildlife Trust’s Thameside Nature Discovery Park, thousands of people have flocked to celebrate nature’s recovery with Sir David along the way.
Sir David Attenborough celebration cake - Photo © Broni Lloyd-Edwards
Among those present at yesterday’s ceremony were Susan Attenborough (Sir David’s daughter), Liz Bonnin (current President of The Wildlife Trusts), Duncan Ingram (Chair of The Wildlife Trusts), Craig Bennett (Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts), Bobbi Benjamin-Wand, (Youth Programmes Delivery Officer, London Wildlife Trust) and Najwa Favaro, (Keeping it Wild Trainee, London Wildlife Trust.) After awarding Sir David the medal, a wildlife-themed cake was cut and Sir David scattered some wildflower seeds at the reserve.
Sir David Attenborough, President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“The name ‘Rothschild’ is famous in many contexts. High finance, of course, is one. But nowhere does it bring greater respect than in the world of natural history. Charles Rothschild was effectively the founder of the county Wildlife Trusts and his daughter Miriam was a great biologist. I knew her only slightly, but everyone interested in natural history is also indebted to her – whether it is because of her work on fleas and the diseases they carry, or the ecological importance of the verges on motorways.
“So it is a huge honour to be given a medal carrying the Rothschild name and I shall treasure it greatly.”
Liz Bonnin, President of The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Sir David is beloved by millions for his knowledge and passion when presenting us with the majesty of nature from all around the world. What's perhaps less well known is his extraordinary breadth of work here in the British Isles to protect wildlife and support those who strive to recover nature. Today's award shines a light on his remarkable dedication to The Wildlife Trusts federation over the years – we are all deeply grateful for his enduring and tireless commitment to the cause.”
Sir David Attenborough at the opening of Attenborough Nature Centre in 2005 - Photo © Nottingham Evening Post
Paul Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Sir David has been a guiding light and an inspiration to The Wildlife Trusts across the UK for sixty years. He has given an astonishing level of support to us and to UK nature conservation. Our association with Sir David her at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust stretches back to the 1960’s and it’s humbling to reflect on just how much he’s championed our work and that of other Wildlife Trusts over so many year. The Wildlife Trusts awarding Sir David the Rothschild medal recognises our profound debt and the huge gratitude owed to him by successive generations of Wildlife Trust staff, volunteers and supporters.”
View Timeline of Sir David Attenborough’s support of The Wildlife Trusts
1964
Attends Somerset Wildlife Trust’s inaugural meeting and gives a talk, which is covered in the Central Somerset Gazette.
1965
Guest Speaker at Somerset Wildlife Trust’s first AGM with Dr Bruce Campbell
1966
Opens Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Attenborough Nature Reserve
1974
Opens new Visitor Centre and expanded field station, Gibraltar Point National Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Gives a lecture on ‘Conservation Worldwide’ to “an enthusiastic audience at Riseholme College, Lincoln" on the Silver Anniversary of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
1975
Opens Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Hams Hall Environmental Studies Centre
1976
Opens Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s first office, ‘Hancock’s Hut’
1978
Principal Speaker at the launch of Ulster Wildlife (the 41st Wildlife Trust)
1981
Launches The Wildlife Trusts’ Natural World magazine with interview
Opens Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Woods Mill Centre and exhibition on its 20th birthday
1985
Becomes Chairman of the British Wildlife Appeal until 1990 and launches it at Natural History Museum, London in October. Commences 14-day Nationwide Tour of 12 Wildlife Trusts raising £50,000 for British Wildlife Appeal – with a talk, Travels of a Naturalist, delivered in Durham (Sunderland Empire Theatre), Herts & Middsx Wildlife Trust (Watford Town Hall), Lancashire (Preston Guildhall), Scotland (Usher Hall), Worcestershire, Avon, Cambridge, Derbyshire, and others.
Opens Leicestershire Wildlife Trust’s Lyndon Visitor Centre, Rutland Water
Visits Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Nower Wood Educational Nature Reserve
Inaugurates Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Foster’s Green Farm reserve
Launches Project Wildlife North-West, Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Presents Susan Cowdy with The Wildlife Trusts’ Cadbury Medal at a reception in London
1986
Opens Avon Wildlife Trust’s new Bristol headquarters
Attends Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s seminar on Churchyards and visits East Wreatham Heath
Writes foreword to British Wildlife Diary
1987
Presents Norman Moore with Natural World Book Award
Addresses representatives of industry, business and local government in support of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Coast and Country Campaign
1988
Launches Herts & Middsx Wildlife Trust’s Winning with Wildlife Campaign
Launches Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Appeal, Wildlife means Business
Writes the foreword for Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Red Data Report Endangered Species in Lincolnshire and South Humberside, the first of its kind for any county in the UK
Tours a range of Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust nature reserves, including Duke’s Wood to mark the Trust’s 25th anniversary and views plans for Attenborough Wildlife Centre.
1989
Guest of Honour, Appeal Luncheon for Lower Suite Farm, Worcestershire Trust
1990
Jointly hosts commemorative dinner at Apsley House with The Duke of Wellington which raises £40,000
End of British Wildlife Appeal – celebrates £16.1 million raised and launch of Tomorrow is Too Late – a book with introduction by Sir David
Launches The Health of the UK, The Wildlife Trusts’ response to the Government’s Environment White Paper
Visits Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s Whistlestop Countryside Centre
1991
Becomes President of The Wildlife Trusts (until 1995)
Becomes President of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust
Welcomes David Trippier, Minister of Environment who opened The Wildlife Trusts’ new Lincoln office in April
Presents photograph to British Telecom to mark their contribution as part of new Business Supporters Scheme
Visits Dyfed Wildlife Trust’s (now Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales) Skomer for Natural World article
Awards North Wales Wildlife Trust’s President, Bill Lacey, the Christopher Cadbury Medal for services to nature conservation
1992
Champions the appeal by Gwent Wildlife Trust to buy Pentwyn Farm in Wye Valley
Accepts ‘wooden’ cheque from National Grid towards Woodland Initiative supporting 13 Trusts
Tour of Wildlife Trusts in south-west including:
- Visit with HRH Prince of Wales and Devon Wildlife Trust to see culm grassland
- Visits Somerset Wildlife Trust’s pilot project for the Avalon Marshes
- Opens Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust’s Robinswood Hill Country Park Conservation Centre,
Opens Ulster Wildlife’s Crossgar Wildlife Centre
Opens Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Brandon Marsh nature reserve
Figurehead of The Wildlife Trusts’ How to make or change your Will campaign
Receives cheque from Barclays Bank and presents five Trusts with awards from the Barclays Gold Awards Scheme
Launches Heart of England Wildlife Trusts’ Business Scheme
1993
Writes letter in The Wildlife Trusts’ national magazine, Natural World, to raise profile of damage to wildlife sites
Launches Wildlife Trusts from the Marches (Shropshire, Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, North Wales, Brecknock, Herefordshire) Business Supporters Scheme at Powys Castle
Nature reserve visits with Brecknock, Shropshire, Radnorshire, and Worcestershire Wildlife Trusts
Supports the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust in congratulating local authorities for making Gloucestershire the first peat-free county
Visits Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s Potteric Carr nature reserve
1994
Launches The Wildlife Trusts’ Million for Wildlife Campaign hosted at House of Commons by Kenneth Carlisle MP
Principal speaker with Sir William Wilkinson and Max Nicholson and presented Christopher Cadbury and Tim Sands with the Cadbury Medal at The Wildlife Trust’s national conference
Accepts cheque for £100,000 from Bass towards Bass Wildlife Action Fund
1995
Launches 2nd Biodiversity Challenge Report at Natural History Museum
Opened Staffordshire Wildlife Trust’s Bat Group Exhibition, Potteries Museum, Stoke
Launches Natur Cymru (Welsh Wildlife Ltd) at National Museum of Wales in Cardiff
Launches Work on the Wildside supported by ICI
1997
Unveiled Memorial to Christopher Cadbury at Welcombe and Marsland Reserve, Devon Wildlife Trust, on behalf of The Wildlife Trusts
1998
On the 50th anniversary of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, visits Gibraltar Point and attended a special event with 300 members at the Trust HQ Banovallum House
1999
Launches scheme to encourage otters back to the Thames at Otter Forum organised by The Wildlife Trusts’ Otters and Rivers Project, Environment Agency and Biffaward
Opens Kent Wildlife Trust’s Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve.
2004
Opens London Wildlife Trust’s refurbished Shot Tower visitor centre at Crane Park Island Nature Reserve
2005
Opens Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Attenborough Nature Centre
2006
Opens Leicestershire and Rutland Trust’s Cossington Meadows Nature Reserve
Provides quotes for The Wildlife Trust’s Legacy and Membership leaflets
2007
Writes the foreword to Ted Smith’s memoirs, Trustees for Nature - A Memoir
2008
Digs the first turf for Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust’s Rutland Water Reservoir Project
2009
Narrates Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s Audio Tour
2010
Supports London Wildlife Trust’s Strategic Plan 2010-2015
Attends Ambassadors’ Reception Dinner
Writes foreword for Nature Tales compiled by Michael Allen and Sonya Patel Ellis, published by Elliott & Thompson
2011
Attends Dorset Wildlife Trust’s 50th Anniversary Concert, Lighthouse Poole
2012
Principal Speaker at The Wildlife Trusts’ centenary celebrations, Natural History Museum London in May
Becomes President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts
Records interview for The Wildlife Trusts’ Centenary Film
Visits Woodhall Spa for the premiere of The Wildlife Trusts’ – 100 years of Nature Conservation film at the Kinema in the Woods. Presents Ted Smith with The Wildlife Trusts' Centenary Award and visits Kirkby Moor nature reserve with Ted Smith.
Visits The Wildlife Trusts’ National Office, The Kiln, Newark
Commends Morweena Trevena volunteers, Sussex Wildlife Trust
2013
Opens Thameside Nature Discovery Park, Essex Wildlife Trust in front of 2,000 local people – the reserve sits atop a vast former landfill site
Launches State of Nature Report at Natural History Museum
2014
Contributes quotes in support of legacies for local Wildlife Trusts
Attends Conference for Nature – State of Nature Partnerships
Opens Essex Wildlife Trust’s newly enhanced Abberton Reservoir
2015
Supports The Wildlife Trusts’ My Wildlife campaign and does photo-shoot at Crane Park Island, London Wildlife Trust
Celebrates Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Living Coast Project – connecting Cley and Salthouse Marshes.
Opens new Cley Marshes Simon Aspinall Centre
Opens Leicestershire Wildlife Trust’s Rutland Water Volunteer Training Centre
2016
Opens London Wildlife Trust’s Woodberry Wetlands reserve and makes global headlines - watch his speech here.
Joins Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to celebrate their 70th anniversary. See article: On the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's 70th birthday, Sir David Attenborough on why we must protect the natural world | York Press.
Visits Askham Bog Nature Reserve, which led to YWT’s creation.
2019
Narrates The Wind In The Willows trailer for The Wildlife Trusts in support of The Wildlife Trusts’ Wilder Future campaign
Narrates a Nature Recovery Network film for The Wildlife Trusts
Helps launch Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s successful appeal to purchase Attenborough Nature Reserve.
Provides the voiceover for a film about the lost Sussex kelp forest and the role of fisheries management in allowing it to recover. In doing so he boosts the momentum of Sussex kelp restoration work, supported by Sussex Wildlife Trust.
2021
Supports for The Wildlife Trusts’ plans to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 Narrates The Wildlife Trusts’ film, Let Nature Help, for COP26
2022
Films scenes for BBC Wild Isles on Skomer with The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and other Wildlife Trusts
2023
BBC Wild Isles is broadcast using, among others, six different Wildlife Trust locations – see: Wild Isles locations revealed as spectacular new series explores British wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts
Kent Wildlife Trust hosts Sir David Attenborough at Downe Bank Nature Reserve – a special place much studied by Charles Darwin – as he films for BBC Planet Earth
2024
Sir David is awarded the Rothschild Medal in recognition of his magnificent support of The Wildlife Trusts and UK nature conservation spanning 60 years