100 letters announced to follow in the footsteps of Captain Scott
The 100 letters that will be making the journey to Antarctica have been announced as part of a Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust competition to inspire future generations to get close to nature and protect our environment.
The competition celebrates the centenary of Captain Scott’s expedition to the South Pole and WWT’s link with that expedition. Knowing he was about to die, Scott wrote a letter to his wife which urged her to get their young son interested in nature. That son grew up to become Sir Peter Scott, who founded WWT so that future generations could have fun getting close to nature. 100 years later, the competition aims to repeat that inspiration through the simple act of writing a letter.
At Martin Mere, we have had three local people’s letters selected to make the trip to Antarctica (letters below). The letters were picked by a panel of celebrity judges including Gordon Buchanan, Miranda Krestovnikoff, Kate Humble, Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan, Bill Oddie and David Lindo.
Kate Humble is taking the top 100 letters to Antarctica where she will post them to their recipients from the most southerly post office in the world. Each letter will include an Antarctica post stamp and include a covering letter personally signed by Captain Scott’s grandson, Falcon. Peter Kay will receive his letter later this spring.
Scott 100 Letters competition judge and TV broadcaster Gordon Buchanan said:
“We have to inspire our youngsters to get close to nature, not just for their own benefit but also so that they will protect our environment in the future.
“All the judges found it was really difficult, but also a real privilege, to pick the winners from more than 600 inspiring entries.
“It’s mindboggling how Captain Scott’s letter, written thousands of miles away and a hundred years ago, has resulted all these years later in WWT saving endangered bird species around the world and running wetland visitor centres around the UK which get children close to nature. Just imagine what these letters might accomplish a hundred years from now?"
Alongside the competition, WWT’s Inspiring Generations Appeal has raised more than £60,000 to enable disadvantaged schoolchildren to visit their centres and get close to nature, as its founder Sir Peter Scott intended.
To read the overall winning letter please click on the following: http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/news/2013/01/wwt-news/wwt-news-wwt/captain-scott-letters-competition-inspires-children/
Dear: Peter Kay
I am writing to you because:
You are loved for your down to earth straightforward observations about human nature, both by young and old, everybody can relate to you. Plus as you are a father yourself now you might be planting a seed and inspiring your own child and grandchildren!
In 2013 would you do one thing for me:
Create a music video that stays in people’s hearts/minds as much as The Road to Amarillo did, with conservation in mind, about the lifespan of a piece of discarded rubbish such as carrier bags and discarded food wrappers and the subsequent impact that it has on wildlife and the environment. There are so many distractions and pressures these days for young people and their families that it is easy to overlook these things but you are somebody it is hard to ignore! The message to me is that just because something isn’t on our front door/within the confine of our front gate it doesn’t mean it won’t impact on us in the end.
This is important because:
I was at the bus stop the other day in the rural area I live, waiting to get to work. A man was parked right nearby with his young son sat behind him eating his breakfast purchased from the local shop. During the course of his meal he opened and slammed his car door five times to throw out his plastic drinks bottle, his sauce packets, a sandwich wrapper and napkins, then drove away. He was a big burly man and the way he slammed his door left me feeling not too confident to tackle him. It made my chest feel tight I was so frustrated. I put his litter in a nearby bin when he had driven away. I couldn’t help but feel that his young child would then learn to do exactly the same and that if the dad were aware of the damage that litter can do to our rivers, seas, countryside and wildlife he might have taken the five second trip to the bin and set an example to his young son. Perhaps if young people recognise that there is a consequence to EVERY thing we do .. It can make some difference in protecting our environment. “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do. There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the earth” (Rumi).
From: Isobelle Forde, Manchester
Dear: Mr Cameron
I am writing to you because:
You are a very powerful man and the environment is a very sensitive place. It is wildly excepted that global warming is happening. The only question is - how much of an influence do humans have. I fully believe that it is in the best interests of our society to make alterations in the way we live. Cutting are use and dependence on fossil fuels, recycling where possible. We should do these things and more regardless of any facts or beliefs about global warming. We should do this simply because it is the right thing to do. In order to make sure our living environment is healthy for future generations. You have the power make a real difference to the way this country operates. To stand out from a crowd and make this country a world leader once again. We are a developed country, with lots of potential to develop further. I believe that an eco-friendly country is the next revolution. Just like the industrial revolution revolutionised this country. The UK could be one of the first countries to make a genuine and heartfelt stand against climate change. To develop and further develop the technology needed, and implement the technology where possible. It is not about saying what is already been done to tackle the issue of global warming. It is about what can be done next to help us move even further forward.
In 2013 would you do one thing for me:
Please take a genuine stand against global warming. To save the environment we know today.
This is important because:
As well as the rest of mankind we live on this planet, and it is the only planet we have. I fully believe that no living organism should suffer if we are the cause.
From: Callum Gibson, West Yorkshire
Dear: Grandchildren
I am writing to you because:
Today you are busy just growing, and finding your way in this wonderful world, time does not seem so important to you right now, as you may feel you have all the time in the world. As your grandmum, I have been around a long time and have seen many changes in the world, some have been hard to understand, change is hard and again this is something you will find out for your self on your journey. Part of that Journey is being aware of the world and nature, that is all around you. Nature like grandchildren need care, love and understanding, it has to be treasured and nutured. One of the greatest gifts a parent, grandparent can give to the next generations is the hope that the world you live in will always fill you with wonder and love, the yearn to treasure and care for it, and to share this with the next generation.
In 2013 would you do one thing for me:
Open your eyes and look around, look at what nature is, what it has to offer you, and how you need to learn to take care of this wonderful natural world. Learn to share it with others, make it part of your life, and enjoy what you learn from it, most of all, make those who don’t appreciate it understand the wonder of it all.
This is important because:
You are the most precious gift, my children, grandchildren, I want you to live in a world where you feel safe and happy, but importantly share what the world has to offer you. I want you to live in a world where you pass on the wonderful experiences you have learnt on your journey. Lastly it may seem that your life and those around you have it right, that nature will survive no matter what, but remember as much you want it to be there for your children and grandchildren, it will always need us to watch over it keep it safe, so that you and our next generations will have that time to wonder at its beauty and strength.
From: Your loving Grandmother xx, Manchester
WWT Martin Mere is open every day from 9.30am to 5pm and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via theSouthporttoManchesterand theLiverpooltoPrestonline by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight centres.
