I am one happy bunny

Great story, SeaburnG.

You lucky lady. Sir David is one of my all time heroes. I've often said that if I could have the ideal dinner guests he would definitely be on my list. I'm sure he would be fascinating to listen to and I would have hundreds of questions for him.
I wish I had been sat with you on Friday night, I feel quite envious!
The fact that you wrote to Sir David and that he wrote back to you, personally just endorses the type of man he seems to be.

That sounds a like a great evening, Sbg. I too was allowed to stay up and watch Zoo Quest with my Mum (Dad was working away at that time). I was a bit older than you (still am!) but I loved it. Your beach visits sound great, and it is just the sort of thing I tried very hard to interest my very young pupils in, as well as my own children, of course. Now I'm at it again with grandchildren. It is such a good way to learn about our place in the world.

Brilliant! The great thing about childhood in the 60s and 70s was there was very little traffic, so we were chucked out to play outdoors. On the beach we paddled about in rockpools, and holidays were taken in the UK in tents. We naturally had a lot more contact with nature. If I ever have grandchildren, I shall do my very best to enable them to get dirty, wet and happy! :) great story SBG!

yes he'd be on my ultimate guest list too.
I was on the beach most days as a child as we only lived 5 minutes walk from it. Low tide we would be in the rock pools, when the tide was in we'd walk along the promenade. Google Seaburn Sunderland and you will see the beach from Whitburn to Roker!
Uncle Charlie and I would walk the dog every day and during the holidays twice a day. we would walk through the fields too then onto the beach. or through the old cemetery then onto the beach. he taught me the local birds by song as well as flight pattern. In fact thinking about it he would sometimes pretend not to know so I would enjoy finding out and telling him. I can recognise most native trees by their shape.
for my Christmas present 1969 he bought me The concise British Flora in colour by Keeble Martin. I treasure this book above all others. I have a smaller version of it for taking out in to the field.

what a beautiful story, so pleased you got to meet your hero and what a great thing to have your own personal letter from the great man. Lovely lovely memories. :O)

I think we were all brought up the same,ive still got books that dad got me,birds,insects,wildlife of any kind,my granddaughters are 1 and 2 and i going to teach them all i know,what a brilliant man to meet im in awe and as my nephew says well jell

How lovely. An interesting story :)

What a great blog - enjoyed every word. I wonder how many other people owe their careers to his inspiration? so glad you were able to attend his talk. Sounds as though you had an idyllic childhood.

My grandma used to take me for frequent walks down by the river and woods - the love of nature you learn then never leaves you.

What a great story, you must have been so thrilled to meet your childhood hero.......an inspiring man.

Sadly ladybug we were not all brought up the same way. many of my school friends rarely got to go to the beach even though it was on good bus routes. I was considered a bit of a geek at school because I did know the common species and didn't know the latest pop songs etc
In many ways it was idyllic Stera but had it not been for my uncle it wouldn't have been, as my dad was frequently laid off in the building trade [late 60's early mid 70's]. Sir David has been my life time hero DD2. Not for me the likes of Donny, David Cassidy et al ;o)

Lovely story, lovely man

The Attenborough brothers went to school in the city and it was in the charnwood forest that david attenborough found his special fossil, now in the museum and called Charnia

So wonderful for you to meet him xxx

yes i knew about the Charnia fossil. it is mentioned in one of his specials. He clearly is fossil mad. this came across when he was speaking.

David Attenborough is very engaging. Very interesting story.

David Attenborough: What a gentleman! His programmes really shine out amongst the dross so often on TV. There's always something new to see, and learn, in his programmes. Lucky you, SeaburnGirl.

I was fortunate to have an uncle who taught me so much about the countryside. I learnt to tickle trout; tie a trout fly: collect whinberries and carry them home threaded like kebabs on reeds. I learnt what berries to eat and what to avoid; what plants could be used for healing; how spider webs could be used to stop cuts bleeding........those were the days! :O)

Today's youngsters just Google everything!

Yes - it is so sad if no-one has taken the time to engage them with the natural world, or given them the opportunity to spend time outdoors. Once that chain has broken, it seems to be lost forever.

some teachers are able to re engage students and get them studying nature. so all is not lost.

True.

Lovely story SBG. I watched tons of David Attenborough's shows. His enthusiasm about nature is contagious.

yes it really is. I love his soft accent especially as it has mellowed with age.
My daughter was talking to one of the YWT staff who were with him on Friday afternoon. He is really nice in the flesh too. Taking an interest in everything they were showing him etc.

National Hero xxx

Eirlys those were indeed the days. I remember taking a party of children from childrens' section of our local Wildlife Trust into some woodland once and finding blackberries - not one child would venture to eat one for fear they were poisonous. I don't think their parents and teachers can tell one berry from another.

some teachers can, some can spell and write grammar and others struggle with computers.
lots of knowledge is lost due to changing fashion and habits. how many people just buy blackberries fresh or frozen. this is just as true for the young teachers coming through. lots of modern knowledge etc
as a child we ate everything in season as there was little choice.
I've taught my girls to buy fresh, in season and to check the origin of foods. Broccoli from Spain or from Lincolnshire? same price too. Spanish wrapped in plastic, lincs unwrapped. yet people go for the plastic one. sorry its a particular bug bear of mine.

Its a mad world, especially at the moment. ....

What a wonderful blog. Your uncle sounds great. Your blog made me think of my brother. When I was 3 my father got a job that ment we lived abroad moving every 2 to 3 years. In the 70s we lived in Brazil. My brothers at the time favourite book was "my family and other animals". Living in Brazil gave him the chance to emulate his hero and we ended up with some weird and wonderful (and not so wonferful) pets. Armadillo, tegu lizard, spiders, snakes ( :-( ) and a Brazlian bullfrog called Toadus. Back then things were not as strict and Toadus came back to England in a biscuit tin on my brothers lap on the plane. His childhood hero like you ignited a life long passion for reptiles and as a hobby he helps run a website on reptiles. I worry for the children nowdays. As im out with my dogs walking pass the play grounds I see so many mum's sitting there on their phones or just pushing pushchair doing the same and I wonder where the interaction is with the children to ignite an interest in the world around them.

Jen: Your brother sounds great!

Have this vision of him being asked, "Have you seen this customs declaration, Sir?" and Toadus replying, "Reddit"!!

Apologies for being facetious. It's that sort of day here.

Thanks Eirlys, he keeps me entertained. One of his bedrooms is full floor to ceiling with tanks. He will phone me up to tell me something like he has just got a fire toad or something. He still has snakes as well, a blue corn snake called Red and a amazon rainbow. Don't like snakes so I tell him I'll keep to my 2 dogs and cat thank you. :-)