In a heartfelt letter to the Guardian, conservationist Pete Etheridge has praised the enduring magic of Sir David Attenborough, following the broadcaster's latest documentary, Wild London.
The Solitary World of Ecological Grief
Etheridge, writing from Sway in Hampshire, reflected on the often lonely burden carried by those working in conservation. He echoed the words of the late American ecologist Aldo Leopold, who wrote that "one of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds." For many on the front lines of nature recovery, this sentiment rings painfully true, with the constant struggle against biodiversity decline sometimes sapping the energy needed to remain positive.
Attenborough's Gift: Unwavering Wonder
The true power of Sir David, according to Etheridge, lies in his undiminished sense of wonder and passion for the natural world. This, Etheridge suggests, is perhaps the broadcaster's greatest lesson to the public. Despite the hectic pace of modern life and the ongoing environmental challenges, Attenborough inspires people to pause, observe, and appreciate the world immediately around them.
While most will never visit the remote locations featured in Attenborough's globe-trotting career, everyone can learn to take pleasure in local nature. Etheridge gives personal examples, from the fieldfares cackling outside his window to a friendly garden robin and the annual return of spring migrants.
A Vital Reminder Amidst Decline
The letter acknowledges the stark reality that nature is in decline and urgently needs our help. However, Etheridge stresses that Sir David Attenborough eloquently reminds us not to take the natural world for granted. He encourages us to hold onto that primal sense of pure wonder, a crucial mindset for fostering the care and action needed to protect our environment.
Patrick Barkham's original report on Wild London, published in the Guardian on 29 December, prompted Etheridge's public reflection on the iconic broadcaster's lifelong role as a source of inspiration.
