For the past fifty years children across east London have been heading to Epping Forest for worthwhile school trips.

The place they have all been enjoying is the Suntrap Forest Education Centre, in Loughton, and in its golden anniversary year, it got some rather special attention.

That’s because Sir David Attenborough took the time to congratulate the centre on all it has achieved since 1967.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Sir David's rather messy handwriting!

In his hand-written letter, Sir David said: “Congratulations to all the staff of Suntrap and the London borough of Waltham Forest on fifty years of inspiring children with a love of nature and a respect for the natural world.”

The centre, which is smack in the heart of Epping Forest, has worked closely with Waltham Forest Council to bring outer-London schoolchildren that bit closer to the natural world.

Back in 1967, the then London borough of Walthamstow was offered the chance to buy the old Suntrap Hospital for just £500.

It turned out to be a wise investment, as the old hospital building was quickly converted into a centre for school trips that same year.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

School trips to Suntrap is a Waltham Forest tradition! 

The number of staff grew over the years so that by the 1970s and 1980s, all children in Waltham Forest made eight visits to the centre during their final year of primary school.

Many adults who grew up in Waltham Forest will share the Suntrap experience no matter what their background.

The trips offered many their first chance to touch a real live animal, be it a snake, chicken or a rabbit.

It allowed children stuck in their east London bubbles the chance to experience streams, wide open green spaces, and a walk through mud without getting told off by their parents.

The manager at Suntrap Forest Education Centre, Kelly Rolison, was delighted when Sir David’s letter came through the post.

She said: “We were thrilled. He is a big hero of the centre.

“One of our members wrote to the BBC to say it would be wonderful if we got some support.

“He really champions the sharing of knowledge of the natural world and that is why we think he wrote to us.

“So many children these days have lost connection with the natural world.

“If they lose that connection they lose touch with knowing how important nature is for our world.

“If that goes, we are all in trouble.”