Wind in the Willows has been updated in a cartoon film reflecting the impact our rubbish is having on the environment.
The film, released by the Wildlife Trusts, updates the classic children’s tale and was premiered at the Bafta award ceremony last night.
The animated film shows how the lives of Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad are disrupted by roads, river pollution and intensive agriculture – many habitats have been destroyed and others have been broken up.
Wind in the Willows has been updated in a cartoon film reflecting the impact our rubbish is having on the environment. The film, released by the Wildlife Trusts, updates the classic children’s tale
In one scene, Mr Toad looks over a landscape featuring flytipped furniture, tyres and a camping gas canister and other junk
The animated film shows how the lives of Badger, Ratty, Mole and Toad are disrupted by roads, river pollution and intensive agriculture – many habitats have been destroyed and others have been broken up
Narrated by stars including Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate, and Alison Steadman it highlights damage to the environment from litter as well building motorways through the countryside and the loss of habitats for wild animals such as ponds.
In one scene, Mr Toad looks over a landscape featuring flytipped furniture, tyres and a camping gas canister and other junk.
In another, Toad hangs a picture of a puffin entangled in plastic on the wall in Toad Hall and says: ‘Farewell old friend’.
The film has been released by the Wildlife Trusts to highlight environmental damage and to call on politicians to do more to protect the environment.
It will be screened at 500 cinemas as well as on social media.
The film, released by the Wildlife Trusts, updates the classic children’s tale and was premiered at the Bafta award ceremony last night. Its narrated by stars including Sir David Attenborough, Stephen Fry, Catherine Tate, and Alison Steadman
The movie, with a stellar cast, highlights damage to the environment from litter as well building motorways through the countryside and the loss of habitats for wild animals such as ponds
The charity said only 20 per cent of rivers are considered healthy.
Kenneth Grahame’s Ratty – the water vole – is the UK’s most rapidly declining mammal and has been lost from 94 per cent of places where it was once prevalent, and its range is continuing to contract.
Toad is also suffering: toad numbers have fallen by 70 per cent in the last 30 years alone.
Sir David Attenborough, President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, says: ‘We have damaged our rivers, built too many roads and lost too many ponds and meadows.
‘All of this has happened because our systems and laws that should be keeping nature healthy are failing, and we are losing touch with wildlife.’
The film has been released by the Wildlife Trusts to highlight environmental damage and to call on politicians to do more to protect the environment. It will be screened at 500 cinemas as well as on social media
The film has been released by the Wildlife Trusts to highlight environmental damage and to call on politicians to do more to protect the environment
Sir David added: ‘What we create may not look exactly like the countryside that Kenneth Grahame drew such inspiration from, but our wildlife won’t mind just so long as it has the places it needs to live and thrive.
‘As a society we know how to put meanders back into straightened rivers and how to build bridges for wildlife. We know which wild places we should be protecting and expanding. But we need ambitious new laws to ensure we do this, laws that ensure we map out nature’s recovery.
‘Meanwhile we can all make a practical difference. If you have a window sill or balcony you can put up bird feeders or plant pots of wildflowers. If you have a garden it is easy to dig a small pond or make holes in your fence for hedgehogs to wander through. It is not too difficult to take up paving slabs to let plants grow to feed our bees.
Sir David Attenborough, President Emeritus of The Wildlife Trusts, says: ‘We have damaged our rivers, built too many roads and lost too many ponds and meadows.’ This image shows a scene from the film
‘Together we can make the next chapter for wildlife a happier one. Join us to put nature into recovery.’
Stephen Fry, President of the Great Fen Wildlife Trust, who plays Badger, said: ‘I’ve acted in and narrated Wind in the Willows in the past but this version is different – it really, really matters.
‘I adore what’s left of Britain’s wild and precious places and I’m a passionate supporter of my local Wildlife Trust which is restoring a huge part of the fens for nature.
‘We all need to get behind The Wildlife Trusts, rise up and call for a wilder future – otherwise it’ll be too late to save Toad, Ratty and all the residents of the riverbank and beyond.’
Alison Steadman, Olivier Award winner & ambassador for London Wildlife Trust, who plays Mole, said: ‘The decline in UK habitats since Kenneth Grahame’s wonderful tale is truly shocking. Millions of people in the UK profess a love of wildlife and we need everyone to be taking action to bring about nature’s recovery.
The film, released by the Wildlife Trusts, updates the classic children’s tale and was premiered at the Bafta award ceremony last night
