Sir David Attenborough at 100

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David, and thank you

for inspiring generations to connect with nature.

President Elect, Jane Findlay FLI presents Sir David Attenborough with his Honorary Fellowship to the Landscape Institute. Click below to watch Sir David address the audience at the awards:

Some moments stay with you forever. For me, one of those moments came in 2019 when, as President of the Landscape Institute, I had the honour of presenting Sir David Attenborough with the Landscape Institute Medal for Lifetime Achievement and with Arit Anderson and Jane Findlay welcome him as an Honorary Fellow of the Institute.

Nearly seven years later, as Sir David celebrates his 100th birthday, I still vividly remember the atmosphere in the room that evening. Here was a man whose voice, storytelling and passion for the natural world had influenced generations across the globe. Yet despite all his achievements, he stood before us with warmth, humility and a deep sense of urgency about the future of our planet.

His message to landscape professionals was both simple and profound. He spoke about humanity’s relationship with nature and the responsibility we all share in protecting it. One line in particular has stayed with me ever since:

“The world depends on an understanding of the natural world.”

Those words feel even more important today than they did in 2019. Postponed by COVID, autumn 2020 saw the premier of his film David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, worth a watch on Netflix if you missed it.

Last week I posted a short film encouraging everybody to pause, spend time outdoors and reconnect with nature on Bank Holiday Monday during the week Sir David Attenborough turns 100.

I was completely overwhelmed by the response. Hundreds of messages, reposts and comments came in from across the UK and beyond, with people sharing photographs, walks, gardens, coastlines, parks and simple moments spent outdoors with family, friends and pets. Messages of support arrived from across the world #Attenboroughat100 and continue today.

It showed just how deeply Sir David’s work has touched generations of people and how strongly many of us still value our connection with the natural world. As Sir David himself once said:

“If children don’t grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it.”

Throughout my career, through my support of the charities Learning Through Landscapes and Groundwork, and through leadership roles at Davies White Ltd and the Landscape Institute, I have increasingly seen the importance of designing landscapes that reconnect children and families with the outdoors. Whether through playful planting, sensory gardens, community spaces or nature-led play environments, we have always tried to create places that encourage curiosity, wellbeing and a deeper appreciation of the living world around us.

Sir David’s influence can be seen throughout the landscape profession today. From biodiversity recovery and sustainable urban drainage to rewilding, tree planting and nature-rich public spaces, many of the conversations now shaping our towns and cities echo the messages he has been sharing for decades.

At 100 years old, Sir David Attenborough remains one of the most trusted and respected voices in the world. His ability to communicate science with clarity, honesty and humanity continues to inspire millions.

As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, perhaps the greatest tribute we can offer is not simply admiration, but action. To spend more time outdoors. To help children experience nature firsthand. To protect landscapes, habitats and species. And to create places where both people and nature can thrive together.

Happy 100th birthday, Sir David, and thank you for inspiring generations to look more closely at the world around us.