Let children collect flowers and fossils says Sir David Attenborough

Children are being denied the chance to learn one of the key "foundation stones" of science because of laws that prevent them from collecting wild flowers, insects and fossils, according to Sir David Attenborough.
Richard Gray, The Telegraph 28 Mar 10;

The veteran natural history broadcaster and naturalist fears that children are no longer learning about how to identify and classify species because of restrictions on collecting items from the countryside.

He believes that laws brought in to protect endangered species from being targeted by collectors have also led to a decline in children being able to collect other non-protected species.

Fossil hunting is now restricted in many parts of the country because special permission is needed from landowners to remove the fossils from their property. This was stifling the inquiring minds of children, said Sir David.

His comments come after the National Trust obtained an injunction against fossil hunters to prevent them from digging into rock faces along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset.

Sir David was speaking at the launch of the Society of Biology – a new organisation set up to promote the biological sciences.

He said: "Children become interested in natural history because they are natural collectors.

"It is a pity that it is not possible to allow them to go out and collect any more. Not to be able to collect a wild flower or fossils is sad.

"It is a great loss to our children that they are prevented legally from collecting animals."

He said that allowing children to collect and classify insects, animals and other objects they found around them helped them to learn the skills needed for taxonomy, the science of classifying species.

Asked about the decline in the public's ability to identify species of animals in the world around them, he said: "Taxonomy is the foundation stone of the biological sciences.

"I learned about taxonomy because, like my fellow colleagues, I was allowed to collect.

"I collected fossils as a child. I was able to compare ammonites to see what was different and I learned to identify their characteristics.

"Collecting and identifying is a basic instinct in children. The desire to collect and classify is deep inside all of us.

"It is very sad but, unfortunately necessary, that legislation should have been passed so it is now illegal to collect birds eggs. It is illegal to collect butterflies. There are restrictions on collecting fossils.

"I hope we might be able to shift legislation in a more intelligent and generalised way that will not be so specific."

Collecting was once a hugely popular activity in Britain, reaching its peak during the Victorian era when it was considered to be a hobby for intellectuals.

It continued to be a favourite pastime until midway through the twentieth century.

It also became a profitable business as collectors paid large sums to have rare specimens sent to them from far flung regions of the world.

Concerns about the pressure being put on species due to the collecting craze, however, led to laws being passed to restrict the trade of rare species.

Other legislation prevents rare wild flowers from being picked if they are listed on protected lists while picking non-protected wild flowers is also restricted as it requires the permission of the land owner.

Similar laws govern the collection of fossils, insects and other animals.

Codes of conduct drawn up by entomologists also say that insects should not be killed unless they are being collected as scientific specimens. Instead they should be examined and released alive.

Amateur entomologists added to Sir David's concern over the decline in collecting, stating that cars claimed the lives of far more insects than children did by collecting.

Dafydd Lewis, honorary secretary of the Amateur Entomologists' Society, said: "Sadly, in many countries collecting even for scientific purposes is outlawed.

"While legal restrictions are needed for the protection of habitats and threatened species, it should be possible to differentiate between the taking of individual specimens for private study and unnecessary killing.

"It is true that whilst the availability of digital cameras means that collecting in general need not be as prevalent as in the past, a reference collection is often a springboard to further study and understanding, especially among children.

"The pendulum has swung too far against collecting. It is a very effective means of engaging with the natural world – and that engagement is needed now more than ever."

Dr David Lonsdale, conservation director of the Amateur Entomologists' Society, added: "I think that the legislation is having an indirect negative effect, which goes far beyond its direct effect.

"This is because the idea of collecting being illegal, even in limited circumstances, creates a situation in which many adults feel, incorrectly, that they must tell children that it's wrong to collect anything from the wild."

A spokesman for Defra said the legislation was not intended to stop children from exploring or learning about the natural world.

She said: “It is important to protect plants, birds and animals from damage and disruption and to help preserve an important part of our heritage so that we can enjoy the benefits for years to come.

“The legislation does not prevent children and adults from exploring and learning about the natural world and we encourage them to enjoy the beauty of the countryside.”