Did you watch Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary ‘Wild London’, which premiered on BBC1, New Year’s Day? We are very proud that Ealing Wildlife Group’s projects were prominently featured. In the words of our Chair, Sean McCormack:
“The absolute honour of a lifetime spent this summer employed as Wildlife Consultant on Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary #Wild London.
Worked alongside the man himself on two shoots, first placing some of our precious Harvest Mice into his hands for release as part of our Ealing harvest mouse project and later introducing him to the Ealing Beaver Project on Beaver watch and alerting him to their movements whenever they appeared. Finally, arranged for him to film in some of our members’ gardens partaking in our Hedgehog Highways project in Ealing to film our prickly little garden friends.
I’ve said it before, always meet your heroes. He was charming, funny, joyful in his interest and unwavering wonder for the natural world, and also a total pro, nailing his lines in his inimitable style at 99 years of age.
Inner 8 year old Sean, who devoured every nature documentary he ever made, was in awe, fan-girling hard inside, playing it cool outside. Consummate professional (haha!)
But after what’s been an incredibly fulfilling, yet at times bonkers year spinning so many plates, I think I’m comfortable giving myself a pat on the back for this moment. And for all we’ve achieved collectively with EWG, Citizen Zoo, Horsenden, Ealing Council, the Beaver Trust and the Mayor of London in making London, and especially Ealing, a wilder place. With the power of an incredible army of nature-loving volunteers, we’ve created something truly remarkable. Worthy of Sir David’s approval and praise. It was worthy of the King’s award too, but this is the true nature royalty that counts!
Watch out for some extra bonus content I’m presenting and featuring in, which will be released soon. Another ‘pinch me’ moment to write that.”
