Sir David Attenborough, who turns 100 on May 8, 2026
Sir David Attenborough turns 100 years old today (May 8) and in that time he has inspired millions by bringing the natural world into homes and classrooms.听
The writer, broadcaster and naturalist was educated at Clare College, Cambridge, and after working at an educational publishing house, started working as a trainee at the BBC in 1952. 听
As controller of BBC Two, he oversaw the first ever听colour听broadcasts in Europe.听
READ MORE:听How one historic upland farm in Cumbria is holding its nerve on the road to regenerative
Recognised听as the voice of natural history听programmes听for the past 70 years, he has worked on award-winning听shows such as听Life on Earth,听The Private Life of Plants听and听The Blue Planet.听
With over 40 animals and plant species named after him, and a constellation, he has explored uncharted land and met听some of the most remote people on earth.听
Sustainable farming
Through听his听work, he has promoted sustainable farming and nature-friendly agriculture.听
The 鈥楽aving Our Wild Isles'听documentary,听produced by Silverback Films for WWF, the听RSPB听and the National Trust,听encourages action through听鈥榖ringing a buzz back to farmland',听鈥榬estoring sea grass below the waves'听and听鈥榩rotecting carbon-storing peatland'.听
"Every one of us, no matter where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature to our isles," said Sir David.听
"Never has it been more important to do this for ourselves and our wildlife."听
Most recently, Sir David stepped forward to champion the 拢30 million Rothbury Appeal on its first anniversary in a bid to create a major step-change for听nature听recovery in the UK.听听听
READ MORE:听Sir David Attenborough backs bid to save Rothbury Estate for 'nature and the nation'
This vast upland, at 9,500 acres, is the largest area of land to be put on sale in England in decades.听听听
Sir David听said:听"The Wildlife Trusts have launched an appeal to buy this very special place. They will work with local farmers to care for the area and breathe new life into its precious wildlife habitats.听听听
"With the communities who live and work at Rothbury, the Wildlife Trusts will create a place where people and nature can thrive side by side. Please help us make this vision a reality. Thank you."听听听
In celebration of Sir David's centenary, the Natural History Museum has named a new species of wasp, native to the Patagonian lakes of Chile, after the broadcaster.听
Collected in 1984 in the Valdivia province of Chile, the small wasp had gone unnoticed by most until a researcher听at the museum听realised it looked different to the others.听
After showing it to听Dr Gavin Broad, principal curator for insects at the Natural History Museum, they听found this听was听not听just a new species but an entirely new genus.听听
They called the wasp听Attenboroughnculus听tau听in recognition not only of the incredible work that听Sir David听has done to show us the wonder and beauty of nature, but also to inspire generations of scientists to pursue careers in natural history.听
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