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Sir David Attenborough awarded Rothschild medal in recognition of 60 years of inspiration and indefatigable support given to The Wildlife Trusts

Profound thanks for championing UK nature, say The Wildlife Trusts

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 over the past 60 years.

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.

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 London Wildlife Trust’s Woodberry Wetlands to Essex Wildlife Trust’s Thameside Nature Discovery Park, thousands of people have flocked to celebrate nature’s recovery with Sir David along the way. See a timeline of Sir David’s support in the Editor’s Notes further below.

Among those present at this morning’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 holding his Rothschild Medal surrounded by present and past staff from The Wildlife Trusts

Broni Lloyd-Edwards

The Wildlife Trusts' presidents past and present, Sir David Attenborough and Liz Bonnin, trade tips across the table

Broni Lloyd-Edwards

Celebratory cake and memory book thanking Sir David Attenborough for 60 years of support for The Wildlife Trusts

Broni Lloyd-Edwards

Rothschild Medal presented to Sir David Attenborough

Broni Lloyd-Edwards

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.”

Craig Bennett, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“Sir David has been a guiding light and an inspiration to The Wildlife Trusts for sixty years. He has given an astonishing level of support to us and to UK nature conservation – it’s humbling to reflect on just how much he’s championed our work for so long. Awarding Sir David the Rothschild medal is recognition of our profound debt and huge gratitude owed to him by successive generations of Wildlife Trust staff, volunteers and supporters.”

Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, says:

Sir David has a special place in the hearts of the Trust here in Lincolnshire. David and our founder Ted, are entwined in the landmarks in our history from his visit to Gibraltar Point in the early 1970s to the celebrations of The Wildlife Trusts centenary at Woodhall Spa and Kirkby Moor Nature Reserve in 2012. Ted's anecdote of when David was staying at his house 'Pyewipes' and shocked the milkman on the doorstep when he paid the milk bill has become part of our collective memory.

Ted Smith with David Attenborough

© Tom Marshall - David Attenborough with Ted Smith

David Attenborough at Gibraltar Point with Warden Kevin Wilson for the 50th Anniversary of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in 1998

David Robinson

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 Attenborough Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.

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 Trust’s first office, ‘Hancock’s Hut’,

1978 -  Principal Speaker, Launch of Ulster Wildlife (41st Trust at the time).

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 1986.

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 Whistlestop Countryside Centre, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

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 contributions 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 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 Biffa award.

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 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 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.

Editor's notes

  • The Rothschild medal The Charles Rothschild and Miriam Rothschild Medal
  • History of The Wildlife Trusts including film with Sir David: Our history | The Wildlife Trusts
  • The Wildlife Trusts: The Wildlife Trusts are making the world wilder and helping to ensure that nature is part of everyone’s lives. We are a grassroots movement of 46 charities with more than 910,000 members and 39,000 volunteers. No matter where you are in Britain, there is a Wildlife Trust inspiring people and saving, protecting and standing up for the natural world. With the support of our members, we care for and restore over 2,600 special places for nature on land and run marine conservation projects and collect vital data on the state of our seas. Every Wildlife Trust works within its local community to inspire people to create a wilder future – from advising thousands of landowners on how to manage their land to benefit wildlife, to connecting hundreds of thousands of school children with nature every year. www.wildlifetrusts.org

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