Approximately 1500 people gathered in Attenborough Arboretum yesterday, to celebrate the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough with us. We organised the community picnic with nature-themed activities for the whole family, to inspire people to continue Sir David’s love for the natural world.
A wide range of Leicester environmental and wildlife groups participated and organised activities. An education officer from the Botanic Gardens led pond dipping and minibeast hunting sessions. Leicester Botany Group took people on a guided walk through the trees of the arboretum. Leicestershire and Rutland Bat Group helped people to make bat finger puppets and bunting and had hundreds of conversations with people about how they could help bats. Leicester Green Quakers led ‘mindful moments’ in quiet parts of the arboretum. Parents for Future Leicestershire created a collage from plastic waste and talked to people about how they could reduce their plastic use at home. Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire led a workshop on ‘Greener Gardens’ for wildlife and adapting our cities to climate change. Insecta Collective helped people to make animal masks and talked to everyone about their upcoming nature-themed art exhibition. 9th Leicester Cubs, of which David Attenborough was a member as a boy, showed people how to make their own natural art materials.
On our stall, we made wildflower seed bombs and invited people to sign our pledge not to use pesticides in their gardens at home. We also co-ordinated a giant birthday card for Sir David and invited everyone to add their own message.
Picnickers spread throughout the arboretum, with people sitting to share food with family and friends. The event culminated with a mass happy birthday sing, around a beautiful cake baked by students at Leicester College. A video of the singing and the birthday card will now be sent to Sir David.
Sam Holmes from Parents for Future Leicestershire left us with her thoughts:
"This is a critical time for us all to join together and act to restore our beautiful natural world. At Parents for Future Leicestershire we want to celebrate Sir David's incredible legacy, and protect the planet for all of our kids' futures. The event today has enabled us to increase awareness in our local community of the things that all of us can do, and how we can use our voices and actions to change the world, together."
