Botanist, broadcaster and former President of The Wildlife Trusts, David Bellamy, has died. Very sad news to the generations of nature-lovers that he entertained and inspired. David was a great friend and champion of Wildlife Trusts across the UK – travelling across the country to support our work, attracting crowds of children and grown-up fans of his TV programmes wherever he went. 

Julian Roughton, Suffolk Wildlife Trust CEO, reflects on the contribution David has made to one of the Trust’s fen reserves, Redgrave & Lopham Fen: 

“David’s love of peat bogs meant he highlighted the threats to them at a time when they were unloved.  

He had a special connection with England’s largest valley fen - Redgrave & Lopham Fen - where he studied his PhD. This was Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s first nature reserve but was rapidly declining because of the abstraction of spring-fed water from a public water supply borehole. David was a tremendous advocate for the restoration of the fen and when the borehole pump was relocated it was David who was asked to turn it off so the water, the lifeblood of the fen, could return. 

David’s energy and boundless enthusiasm grabbed peoples’ attention. At one photo call he, unscripted, jumped into one of the peatland pools at Redgrave. The photographers loved it! 

David was extraordinarily generous with his time and never charged us a penny but stayed with me to keep costs as low as possible. It was a privilege to experience the modest, thoughtful and very funny David Bellamy behind his huge personality.  

What a generous hearted champion for nature he was. He would be thrilled to see Redgrave today – with sundews and marsh fragrant orchids having returned and supporting a thriving range of wetland wildlife.” 

David Bellamy was President of Wildlife Watch from 1988 to 2005 and President of The Wildlife Trusts from 1995 to 2005. The education work of The Wildlife Trusts, through Wildlife Watch and school programmes, continues to inspire thousands of children about our natural world.