Sir David Attenborough, who is best known for his commentary on nature documentaries such as Blue Planet, replied to a request to attend an assembly from Year Five students at Moreton Hall with a hand-written letter.
Zinnia Evans and Cecily Tyne were preparing an assembly on the topics of recycling and ‘saving our oceans’. The assembly was linked to the whole school theme of ‘Saving the Planet’. During the holidays the children were encouraged to research facts, design posters and robots, make recycled artwork and calculate their water usage.
The girls took the initiative to invite and the most influential man on environmental matters, Sir David Attenborough and the Prime Minister, Theresa May. Due to both their busy schedules they were unable to attend the assembly at the school but they both wrote replies to Zinnia and Cecily.
Sir David Attenborough responded with a touching hand-written letter stating he was “so glad you are telling people about the dangers of plastic waste”.
Zinnia who wrote the letter to Sir David Attenborough said, “I don’t think it is right that plastic is hurting and injuring ocean animals and the planet. When I sent a letter to David Attenborough, I was hoping he would come but I never thought he would send a handwritten letter to me with his famous signature on!”
Maggie Roberts, the Eco Coordinator for the school said, “We were amazed to receive a handwritten letter from Sir David Attenborough explaining how delighted he was that we were supporting the plastic problem! Congratulations to Zinnia and Cecily for a fabulous assembly and for highlighting the plight of the oceans so eloquently.”
Cecily, who wrote to Theresa May, said she was “amazed to get a letter back from the Prime Minister. I thought the assembly went really well and I would love to do it again. I would like to thank my mum for attending the assembly and giving me help and support.”
Zinnia and Cecily are setting the example for their generation, showing that teaching children about the environment and recycling from a young age can have a lasting impact for the future.
Picture L to R: Cecily Tyne and Zinnia Evans