Context Research
David Lee
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH
• David Attenborough, born in the Middlesex county of London, is a nature
documentarian, historian, conservationist and climate change activist known to
audiences across the planet for his collaborations with the BBC, producing several
documentaries that have gone on to receive great acclaim from critics and audiences
alike, due in part to Attenborough's descriptive style as a narrator. One of these
documentaries is the 13-part series Life on Earth, which is considered his most
influential work to date, second only to The Blue Planet. In recent years, he has become
a key voice in the fight against climate change, dedicating his efforts to various
environmental causes whose aim is to ensure the protection and preservation of the
planet for future generations. His views and concerns on this issue first came to
prominence during an episode of The Living Planet, which focuses on humans and how
their destruction of certain habitats and landscapes has irrevocably affected the
planet's ecosystem. Despite this, he concludes on a hopeful note stating that the
continued existence of life on Earth "now rests in our hands", words that are still
relevant today now more than ever, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH IMAGES
GRETA THUNBERG
• Greta Thunberg, born in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, is a teenage
environmental activist known across the world for her direct manner of speaking as
well as challenging high-ranking political leaders to take direct action in the battle
against climate change, making her the youngest person to date to become a leading
voice on this issue, alongside senior statesman David Attenborough. Despite her young
age, which has made her the subject of praise and criticism alike, she has accomplished
several feats that have inspired others to follow in her footsteps, such as discouraging
plane travel in favour of taking the train on environmentally-friendly grounds. She is
also well-known for her presence at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, during which
she delivered an impassioned speech to world leaders, exclaiming the words "How dare
you" in response to their inaction in tackling climate change. These words, along with
several other speeches, have since made their way into popular culture, making her a
popular (albeit unintentionally so) figure of inspiration within the media. The COVID-19
pandemic notwithstanding, she continues to call for immediate action on the issue by
organising protests and strikes online, thereby adapting to the new situation with ease.
GRETA THUNBERG IMAGES
ST NICK'S FIELDS
• St Nick's Fields, formerly a rubbish dump and landfill site for up to nearly
200 years, is a nature reserve and conservation centre located on Rawdon
Avenue, making it the centre of all environmental efforts within York. Its
transformation from rubbish dump to conservation centre initially began
during the late 20th century when a campaign was launched by the York
Natural Environment Trust, an organisation whose primary goal is to ensure
the protection of York's woodlands and rivers, or any green space that
exists within the county itself. Following this transformation, it has
attracted the attention of volunteers, Park Rangers and even wildlife
watchers, all with the common goal of preserving trees, birds and insects
so that future generations will have the opportunity to see all these for
themselves and perhaps, one day, be prepared to make a change for the
better.
ST NICK'S FIELDS IMAGES
CONTEXT STATEMENT
• In conclusion, I can definitively say that, based on the research I have gathered on David Attenborough, Greta
Thunberg and St Nick's Fields, all three share a common goal that they are working towards, despite each having
radically different ways of reaching it, namely finding environmentally sustainable solutions in order to
considerably reduce their carbon footprint. This goal can be achieved by working towards an objective
representative of this, which can take the form of substituting meat altogether for a wholly vegetarian diet or, if
this is not possible, reducing meat consumption by a considerable percentage, finding an alternative way of
travelling (e.g. taking the train instead of going by plane) or installing an electrical woodburner/fireplace instead of
one that requires actual wood/coal. While these solutions are by no means perfect, they are undoubtedly a step in
the right direction towards a more hopeful and greener future for the next generation that will walk, live and
breathe on this planet. Some may criticise others for not doing enough to reinforce this message more clearly, but
it is important for those who do so to understand that they are working towards the same goal (as mentioned
above) as the rest of us. However, it is also important to understand that actions speak louder than words and only
by following in Greta Thunberg's footsteps, by encouraging our world leaders to act directly on this issue, can we
ensure that real change will take place.
• With the subject of my documentary firmly in place and work on my script already in progress, David
Attenborough's narration has been a particularly helpful source of inspiration in my writing. As he is
quite analytical and descriptive in his delivery, I plan to pay homage to this by including a section in which I
attempt to describe the noise that a bird makes when singing. However, the dialogue in which I will include a
description of how this can be interpreted by human ears is entirely my own, having taken inspiration, in this
instance, from one of the more senior members of the Wildwatch group who has been known to interpret bird
calls in a way that is both humourous and informative. This will be combined with my own logical interpretations
to create both a grounded but entertaining look at the creatures that dominate our skies. Finally, Greta Thunberg's
direct and forthright manner of speaking has helped me to create an introduction that helps to clearly express my
views on nature and birdsong, while simultaneously retaining my unique style of writing reminiscent of this. This is
particularly evident in part of the introduction where I state that "nature is prepared to reveal its secrets to those
BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Attenborough, David (2018). Life on Earth. 2nd ed. London: William Collins, Sons & BBC Books.
-.
• Bean, Dan. (2018). York Charity, St Nick's, celebrates 20th Birthday. Available:
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17948549.cash-boost-city-environmental-charity/. Last
accessed 9th March 2021.
• Brierly, John. (2009). Rubbish Tip to Nature Reserve. Available:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/york/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8194000/8194075.st
m. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
• Chiorando, Maria. (2019). Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Says "Go Vegan". Available:
https://plantbasednews.org/news/greta-thunberg-says-go-vegan/. Last accessed 9th March
2021.
• Davies, E et al.. (2021). Guide to Attenborough's Life in Colour. Available:
https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/attenboroughs-life-in-colour-tv/. Last accessed 9th
March 2021.
• Horner, Ed. (2019). Cash Boost for City Environmental Charity. Available:
https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17948549.cash-boost-city-environmental-charity/. Last
accessed 9th March 2021.
• Katwala, Amit. (2020). David Attenborough's A Life on Our Planet is an Obituary for the
Earth. Available: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/netflix-attenborough-a-life-on-our-
planet. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
• Pritchard, Emma-Louise. (2019). 8 Things you Need to Know about Greta
Thunberg. Available: https://www.countryliving.com/uk/news/a27112882/greta-
thunberg-age-aspergers-family/. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
• Rigby, Sara. (2021). What Animals are on David Attenborough's Life in Colour Episode
2?. Available: https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/what-animals-are-on-david-
attenboroughs-life-in-colour-episode-2/. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
• Siddique, Haroon. (2021). Greta Thunberg at 18: "I'm Not Telling Anyone What to
Do". Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/03/greta-
thunberg-at-18-im-not-telling-anyone-what-to-do. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
• Tait, Amelia . (2019). Greta Thunberg: How One Teenage Became the Voice of the
Planet. Available: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/greta-thunberg-climate-crisis. Last
accessed 9th March 2021.

FMP Contextual Research

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
    • David Attenborough,born in the Middlesex county of London, is a nature documentarian, historian, conservationist and climate change activist known to audiences across the planet for his collaborations with the BBC, producing several documentaries that have gone on to receive great acclaim from critics and audiences alike, due in part to Attenborough's descriptive style as a narrator. One of these documentaries is the 13-part series Life on Earth, which is considered his most influential work to date, second only to The Blue Planet. In recent years, he has become a key voice in the fight against climate change, dedicating his efforts to various environmental causes whose aim is to ensure the protection and preservation of the planet for future generations. His views and concerns on this issue first came to prominence during an episode of The Living Planet, which focuses on humans and how their destruction of certain habitats and landscapes has irrevocably affected the planet's ecosystem. Despite this, he concludes on a hopeful note stating that the continued existence of life on Earth "now rests in our hands", words that are still relevant today now more than ever, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
    • Greta Thunberg,born in Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, is a teenage environmental activist known across the world for her direct manner of speaking as well as challenging high-ranking political leaders to take direct action in the battle against climate change, making her the youngest person to date to become a leading voice on this issue, alongside senior statesman David Attenborough. Despite her young age, which has made her the subject of praise and criticism alike, she has accomplished several feats that have inspired others to follow in her footsteps, such as discouraging plane travel in favour of taking the train on environmentally-friendly grounds. She is also well-known for her presence at the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit, during which she delivered an impassioned speech to world leaders, exclaiming the words "How dare you" in response to their inaction in tackling climate change. These words, along with several other speeches, have since made their way into popular culture, making her a popular (albeit unintentionally so) figure of inspiration within the media. The COVID-19 pandemic notwithstanding, she continues to call for immediate action on the issue by organising protests and strikes online, thereby adapting to the new situation with ease.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
    • St Nick'sFields, formerly a rubbish dump and landfill site for up to nearly 200 years, is a nature reserve and conservation centre located on Rawdon Avenue, making it the centre of all environmental efforts within York. Its transformation from rubbish dump to conservation centre initially began during the late 20th century when a campaign was launched by the York Natural Environment Trust, an organisation whose primary goal is to ensure the protection of York's woodlands and rivers, or any green space that exists within the county itself. Following this transformation, it has attracted the attention of volunteers, Park Rangers and even wildlife watchers, all with the common goal of preserving trees, birds and insects so that future generations will have the opportunity to see all these for themselves and perhaps, one day, be prepared to make a change for the better.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    CONTEXT STATEMENT • Inconclusion, I can definitively say that, based on the research I have gathered on David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg and St Nick's Fields, all three share a common goal that they are working towards, despite each having radically different ways of reaching it, namely finding environmentally sustainable solutions in order to considerably reduce their carbon footprint. This goal can be achieved by working towards an objective representative of this, which can take the form of substituting meat altogether for a wholly vegetarian diet or, if this is not possible, reducing meat consumption by a considerable percentage, finding an alternative way of travelling (e.g. taking the train instead of going by plane) or installing an electrical woodburner/fireplace instead of one that requires actual wood/coal. While these solutions are by no means perfect, they are undoubtedly a step in the right direction towards a more hopeful and greener future for the next generation that will walk, live and breathe on this planet. Some may criticise others for not doing enough to reinforce this message more clearly, but it is important for those who do so to understand that they are working towards the same goal (as mentioned above) as the rest of us. However, it is also important to understand that actions speak louder than words and only by following in Greta Thunberg's footsteps, by encouraging our world leaders to act directly on this issue, can we ensure that real change will take place. • With the subject of my documentary firmly in place and work on my script already in progress, David Attenborough's narration has been a particularly helpful source of inspiration in my writing. As he is quite analytical and descriptive in his delivery, I plan to pay homage to this by including a section in which I attempt to describe the noise that a bird makes when singing. However, the dialogue in which I will include a description of how this can be interpreted by human ears is entirely my own, having taken inspiration, in this instance, from one of the more senior members of the Wildwatch group who has been known to interpret bird calls in a way that is both humourous and informative. This will be combined with my own logical interpretations to create both a grounded but entertaining look at the creatures that dominate our skies. Finally, Greta Thunberg's direct and forthright manner of speaking has helped me to create an introduction that helps to clearly express my views on nature and birdsong, while simultaneously retaining my unique style of writing reminiscent of this. This is particularly evident in part of the introduction where I state that "nature is prepared to reveal its secrets to those
  • 12.
    BIBLIOGRAPHY • Attenborough, David(2018). Life on Earth. 2nd ed. London: William Collins, Sons & BBC Books. -. • Bean, Dan. (2018). York Charity, St Nick's, celebrates 20th Birthday. Available: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17948549.cash-boost-city-environmental-charity/. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Brierly, John. (2009). Rubbish Tip to Nature Reserve. Available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/york/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8194000/8194075.st m. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Chiorando, Maria. (2019). Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Says "Go Vegan". Available: https://plantbasednews.org/news/greta-thunberg-says-go-vegan/. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Davies, E et al.. (2021). Guide to Attenborough's Life in Colour. Available: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/news/attenboroughs-life-in-colour-tv/. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Horner, Ed. (2019). Cash Boost for City Environmental Charity. Available: https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17948549.cash-boost-city-environmental-charity/. Last accessed 9th March 2021.
  • 13.
    • Katwala, Amit.(2020). David Attenborough's A Life on Our Planet is an Obituary for the Earth. Available: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/netflix-attenborough-a-life-on-our- planet. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Pritchard, Emma-Louise. (2019). 8 Things you Need to Know about Greta Thunberg. Available: https://www.countryliving.com/uk/news/a27112882/greta- thunberg-age-aspergers-family/. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Rigby, Sara. (2021). What Animals are on David Attenborough's Life in Colour Episode 2?. Available: https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/what-animals-are-on-david- attenboroughs-life-in-colour-episode-2/. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Siddique, Haroon. (2021). Greta Thunberg at 18: "I'm Not Telling Anyone What to Do". Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/03/greta- thunberg-at-18-im-not-telling-anyone-what-to-do. Last accessed 9th March 2021. • Tait, Amelia . (2019). Greta Thunberg: How One Teenage Became the Voice of the Planet. Available: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/greta-thunberg-climate-crisis. Last accessed 9th March 2021.