Sir David Attenborough at 100 - a celebration of nature and community

Thank you to everyone who braved the blustery Bexhill seafront on Sunday 10th May to join us at the De La Warr Pavilion for Attenborough Appreciation Day.

Sussex Wildlife Trust and the De La Warr Pavilion teamed up to celebrate Sir David Attenborough; not only his centenary milestone, but the impact he has had on nature and conservation throughout his long career.

Out on the beach, Strandliners and Bexhill Environmental Group and volunteers kicked off the day with a beach clean, findings of which were collated and sorted afterwards. Sussex Wildlife Trust ran a rockpooling session and bird walks. Indoors, Sir David’s films were screened in the De La Warr’s cinema, marine photography was on exhibition and creative arts and craft sessions took place, all backed by the rousing sounds of Tom Kelly’s Sea Shanty Band.

As President Emeritus of the Wildlife Trusts, David Attenborough has long supported the work we and our fellow trusts do for nature in the UK. His presence on our TV screens has had a vital impact on his audience; those joyful whispered wildlife interactions, wind-swept culture-canon intros and bold, down the barrel appeals have done more than show us what’s out there in the big blue and green; his storytelling has engaged us enough to care, and to take action.

This is something we at Sussex Wildlife Trust are equally passionate about and enable through our nature reserves, communications, and community and education work, including collaborative events like Attenborough Appreciation Day. As our Marine Conservation Officer Sarah Ward said when interviewed by BBC South East on the day, direct from the rockpools, "That's why I'm here today, and why I do what I do."

Thank you to the De La Warr Pavilion, and to the other organisations, projects and groups who made the day possible - Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, Sussex Underwater, Strandliners, Bexhill Environmental Group, Tom Kelly's Sea Shanty Band, Bexhill Girl Guides, South Wealden Badger Group, Bexhill College, Young Pollinators, and our photographer Victoria.