London letter writers inspire generations
Scott 100 campaign draws letters from young and old alike
After an inspirational year - the Queen’s Jubilee, the Olympics and the Paralympics, WWT’s Scott 100 letters ‘Inspiring Generations’ campaign continues apace. WWT London Wetland Centre is calling on more members of the public to write letters and help the centre inspire people about nature even more.
Since the campaign was launched in Spring this year hundreds of letters have been received and over £60,000 donated to the special Scott 100 Appeal Fund set up to allow schools in deprived areas to bring their pupils for a free, guided expedition around their nearest WWT centre.
In London there have been some truly inspiring entries, examples include:
• A letter to Chinese politician Xi Jinping urging him to link Chinese students with those studying in other schools around the world to come up with ways of solving environmental problems. “An environmental equivalent of an Olympic spirit must be a good idea to encourage.” says the writer.
• A letter by five and a half year old Thomas who wants people to stop putting plastic bags into rivers!
The campaign was launched to celebrate the Scott Centenary year. In 1912 Scott of the Antarctic wrote to his wife as he lay dying in a tent “I am anxious for you and the boy’s future – make the boy interested in natural history if you can .”
That letter inspired his son Sir Peter Scott to found the WWT, spearhead the modern conservation movement, pioneer natural history broadcasting and to inspire a generation - including Sir David Attenborough - with a passion for the natural world.
Sir David introduces the story of Captain Scott, Peter Scott, and how WWT continues to inspire generations in this short video:
The campaign invites the public - of any age - to write a letter via the www.scott100letters.com website asking a politician, celebrity, business leader, public or private individual to use their ability to inspire people to care about and make a difference to the environment and natural world.
The 100 most inspiring letters will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges including Captain Scott’s grandson, Falcon Scott, Kate Humble, Bill Oddie, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Chris Packham and posted to the recipients from Antarctica next Spring by Kate Humble!
The letter judged the most inspirational overall will also win a luxury family adventure holiday courtesy of Sani Resort in Greece.
Around the country inspired people have been writing to influential people. The singer Adele, for instance, has been asked to write a song about the environment, and Bill Oddie has penned a letter to the world’s politicians, reminding them that they have “the power, and therefore the responsibility” to protect the natural world.
Shayna Barby, the Centre’s Learning Manager, said
“We have set up a special Scott 100 display and conservation trail at WWT London Wetland Centre and are inviting people to come and write a letter while they are here. We want to spread Scott’s message of inspiration and encourage people to experience nature first hand.”
The One Show recently interviewed Scott of the Antarctic's granddaughter Dafila about the letter that her dying grandfather wrote and the amazing effects that letter had - inspiring his son - her father - Sir Peter Scott, founder of WWT, to spearhead the modern conservation movement, pioneer natural history broadcasting and to inspire a generation, including Sir David Attenborough, with a passion for the natural world. The programme airs on 17 October.
