Peter Scott - Peter Scott: Collected Writings, 1933-1989

Great and lasting achievements are usually brought about by individual vision matched with talent, and the drive and determination to achieve. Sir Peter Scott had all these attributes and in quantities beyond the comprehension of most of us.

He was an accomplished artist, a gifted communicator and writer, one of the first natural history broadcasters, a champion skater, a world-class glider pilot and an Olympic yachtsman. Above all Peter Scott was, without doubt, one of the most visionary and influential conservationists of his generation and the architect of modern conservation.

Peter, through his passionate interest in nature, and especially wildfowl, saw what was happening to the world and was determined to do something about it. But his vision went further. He recognised then, nearly 70 years ago, something that the modern conservation movement now puts at the centre of its action. Unless we inspire, interest and educate people about nature and its relevance and importance to our lives, it will not be valued and our attempts to conserve it for future generations will fail. He set out on this mission with drive and determination which surpassed even the extraordinary achievements of his parents, with a talent for communicating and engaging people, and with the vision necessary to make a huge difference.

Among his many gifts and achievements, Peter was a prolific and accomplished communicator. This selection of his various writings is extraordinary in the way each brings to life the story, the place and his feelings and thoughts so vividly and engagingly. Reading them, you can almost hear him speaking to you personally. Just one example for me is a portrayal of the sound of geese callinga music of indescribable beauty and wildness, a harmony with the flat marsh which is their home. It was this gift of being able to convey serious science, combined with passion and emotion, that I am sure enabled him to reach out to so many people and to achieve the considerable advances in conservation he achieved during his life.

These writings give a real insight into the development of Peter's thinking. His curiosity and endless thirst to know and understand more stand out, together with his personal connection with and love of the natural world. He was an internationalist, multi-talented, a man with a powerful mission. We are very fortunate, through this collection of his writings, to be able to experience the thoughts and passions of a man who loved life, lived it to the full, and made a real and lasting difference to the world we know today.