HE’S one of Britain’s most well travelled and beloved personalities and these photographs show the day Sir David Attenborough journeyed to Essex for a change.

Thousands of nature lovers flocked to see Sir David officially open the new Thurrock Thameside wildlife park in Mucking, near Stanford-le-Hope in May of 2013.

The legendary broadcaster was such a popular choice to oversee the opening ceremony, that a ballot had to be held to give local residents the chance to win tickets for the event.

The lucky winners were given guided tours of the 120-acre site before hearing from Sir David and members of the Essex Wildlife Trust, the charity which led the project to turn the old Mucking landfill site into a nature haven and home to rare species of animals, birds and plants.

Sir David said: “A new chapter has begun for this historic landscape beside the Thames – one which will bring joy to people and dramatically improve the fortunes of wildlife in this part of the Thames Estuary.”