Sir Peter Scott was the son of Antarctic explorer Captain Scott who, in his dying letter, urged Peter’s mother to “make the boy interested in natural history”.
Peter particularly loved the wild open marshes of Britain and the mysterious geese that visited from unknown shores. He learned to protect first the birds, and then their wetland habitats.
In 1946 he set up the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge as a centre for science and conservation. Uniquely at the time, he opened it to the public so that anyone could enjoy getting close to nature.
Peter and his family presented the BBC’s first live television wildlife programmes from his artist’s studio overlooking the lakes at Slimbridge, from where he brought a love for the British countryside into millions of homes.
As well as setting up WWT, he became an Olympic sailing medallist and a well-known painter and broadcaster. He created the IUCN red list which measures whether species are threatened or endangered. He was the founding chair of WWF – he even drew their famous panda logo.
WWT flourished during Peter’s life and has continued his life’s work since his death in 1989.
Ah, what a pleasure for my eyes!
It is a wonderful place to visit. My recent visit brought back childhood memories of the place.
He was Chancellor of my University and I met him once when he presented me with The Chancellor’s Prize.
What a privelidge to have had the chance to meet him
Lovely and a great place to visit. Its years since we last went though.
This was my first visit since I was a child. I wasn’t disappointed and hope to go back in the winter months during the migration period.
heartwarming story dear friend
thanks to Scot’s wife who filled heart of her son with love of nature !
thank you soo much for sharing
He was an amazing man with such great insite
Oh my gosh, I am in heaven – bird nerd heaven!
Okay, I only know what a few of these birds are, so some bird nerd I am. Do you know what they all are? Particularly the one with the funky feet lol
I can’t remember all their names I would have to look them up again. The one with the funky feet is called a coot. I was really suprised by the feet as I see these birds often on my local pools they are usually sitting or in the water so their feet are hidden.
I think spring is the best time to spot birds.
Birds get lazy in simmer, power napping in hot days, like us I guess?
Autumn is also a good time I wetland areas due to the migrating birds.