Sir David Attenborough hailed a 'hero' in South East

Sir David Attenborough has been hailed as "a hero" on his 100th birthday, as charities and individuals across the South East reflect on his impact.

For decades, the broadcaster and naturalist has brought the natural world to television screens from every corner of the earth.

While difficult to measure the scale of his impact, those at the conservation charity Sussex Underwater said he had "done a lot for Sussex seas".

Meanwhile, Surrey Wildlife Trust said that Sir David had "done better than anyone" in making caring for nature accessible to all.

The presenter endorsed Sussex Underwater's Help Our Kelp project, the precursor to trawling being banned on a 117 sq mile (302 sq km) area in 2021.

As part of the project, Sir David narrated a film and did not hesitate to get involved, according to co-founders Eric Smith and Catrine Priestly said.

"He's in so many projects around the world, but to be involved with the Sussex kelp, nothing is too small for him," Smith said.

The story of Sussex kelp also featured in Sir David's book Ocean, of which a documentary adaptation was made.

The film was especially significant for Smith, who has been diving in the county since he was 11 years old.

"To hear him talking about all the things I've spoken about for years. It was incredible," Smith added.

"I've been following his career ever since he started. So, to actually make a connection with him and wanting to help us was quite a moving moment."

Sir David has also had a profound impact on Surrey Wildlife Trust, its chief executive Sarah Jane Chimbwandira said.

"Figures such as Sir David Attenborough are so incredibly important to inspire people like myself," she said.

"What he's done better than anyone else is making caring for nature feel like something that ordinary people can do."

Reflecting on the presenter's visit to the trust's Nower Wood centre in 1985, Chimbwandira said it "still really inspires us".

She also praised how "generous" Sir David was behind the scenes.

"Every time we have published a new volume in the Surrey Wildlife Atlas series, he sent a personal handwritten note of thanks," she said.

"He didn't have to do that."

Meanwhile, David Mills, who founded the British Wildlife Centre in Lingfield, said that he was inspired to go into conservation while watching Zoo Quest as a child in the 1950s.

Mills, who met Sir David through his work at the centre, recalled a "fantastic and very inspirational" man who "always wanted to know about you" rather than talk about himself.

A display outside The Yard Dispensary in Faversham, Kent, is proof that Sir David's influence spans beyond those with a particular interest in conservation.

Manager Helen Ball said: "We saw it was Sir David Attenborough's birthday, and we couldn't let that go.

"He's up there with the Queen in the sense that he's always been there."

Stressing that The Yard Dispensary was more a "community" than a wool shop, Ball added that the group were "very excited" to make a display fitting of the man.

"I challenged them to make animals, and this was the result. It's been a real community effort," she said.

Sir David's 100th birthday will be celebrated with three special programmes – Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure, new series Secret Garden, and David Attenborough's 100 Years on Planet Earth, a live event from the Royal Albert Hall.

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