Sir David Attenborough will be celebrating his 100th Birthday on the 8th May this year.
This will provide a unique chance to celebrate a career of conservation, activism, documentaries and inspiration for many. Nowhere else is prouder of Attenborough’s accomplished career and life then his very home city of Leicester. Our site here at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre, is the only centre of its kind located in the heart of Leicester; our 15-acre site offers access to riverside habitats, woodland areas, meadows, and an exceptionally diverse range of 37 outdoor activities. We are so dependent on a balance with nature and try to work in harmony with the River Soar, our surrounding habitats and ecology.
To mark this historic birthday, we wanted to publicly launch a project we have been developing. This celebration provides an ideal opportunity to inspire people of all ages to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and take positive environmental action. We wanted to galvanise all our environmental efforts, sessions and curriculum and launch:
“The Green Adventure Network”
Moving forward the LOPC Green Adventure Network will be a new strand of environmentally-focused activity, community engagement, conservation and education here at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre (LOPC).
We know from the NHS 5 Ways to Wellbeing that being outdoors improves mood, reduces stress, strengthens relationships, increases activity levels, and encourages lifelong learning. OUR Green Adventure builds on this by going a step further: helping people actively care for the natural world around them.
On the day after David Attenborough’s birthday, 9th May 2026, we would like to offer 100 spaces for a half day of nature-based learning and exploration, honouring Sir Attenborough’s legacy of making environmental education accessible to everyone. Each participant will take part in three guided activities across the site, such as:
Canoe Litter Pick – paddling along our river and cleaning out all the manmade pollution
Site Walk - Investigate the Nature and species of our 15 acres, looking at the variety if trees, birds, butterflies and even our pesky invasive species. A real insight into the many sides of conservation.
River Habitat Viewing - Go out on one of our bell boats and get a hands on view of the habitats and ecology in the River Soar, with the help of our awesome underwater camera and a classic bit of river dipping.
Bankside Litter Pick – The Canal and Rivers Trust will be leading a group for a walk along the banks cleaning up any discarded waste along the way.
Canal Boat Litter Picking – Leicester City Parks will be supporting our event with rides on their canal boat to Swan’s Nest Weir, for some much needed litter clearance.
These activities directly link to priorities identified by organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts, who regularly highlight the importance of protecting native species, improving water quality, and restoring natural habitats to address biodiversity loss.
Each participant will also receive lunch and birthday cake as part of the celebration, creating a joyful, memorable community event that brings people together to honour Attenborough’s 100 years of impact.
We will also be hosting and doing this in collaboration with other charities including; Canal and Rivers Trust, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and more to be announced.
Come meet, network and engage with professionals, volunteers and those who work in the environmental sector. Let us all share and celebrate our local ecology and nature in the spirit of our local legend and inspiration Sir David Attenborough!
Participants will leave not only with new skills and knowledge, but with a sense of pride, connection, and a slice of birthday cake to mark a truly special moment.
