Celebratory walk marks visit of US President Roosevelt 100 years ago

The great-grandson of US President Theodore Roosevelt joined the leaders of top nature organisations to re-enact a walk in Hampshire which the President undertook 100 years ago.

In 1910 Roosevelt – responsible for creating many US national parks and known as the ‘conservation President’ – was joined by the then UK Foreign Secretary and naturalist Sir Edward Grey on a walk in the Itchen valley in the South Downs near Winchester and through the New Forest – now both National Parks.

Yesterday (9 June) the President’s great-grandson Bill Gannett walked in their footsteps to mark the centenary, accompanied by the Chairman of the New Forest National Park Authority Clive Chatters, the Forestry Commission’s Deputy Surveyor for the New Forest Mike Seddon, the Chief Executive of the RSPB Mike Clarke and the British Trust for Ornithology Director Andy Clements.

The centenary walk was organised by Hampshire Ornithological Society (HOS) with the New Forest National Park Authority, and other participants included representatives of the World Wildlife Fund, Natural England, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire County Council, Southern Water, and Environment Counselor at the US Embassy in London Jock Whittlesey.

HOS partnership leader Alan Cox said: ‘Roosevelt was touring Europe after completing his presidential term and cited the walk as the highlight of his trip, listing 40 different bird species, many of which were new to him.

‘The walk was an influence on an important conservation development in North America - the Migratory Bird Treaty - signed by the USA and British Government, which has protected migratory birds in North America ever since.

‘The centenary has been an opportunity to bring together representatives of the families of Theodore Roosevelt and Edward Grey, recognising the bond between our two countries and the various organisations that have carried on the work of conserving and studying the countryside that enthralled those two walkers 100 years ago. It has also been a chance to consider how best to improve our protection of the natural world.’

New Forest National Park Chairman Clive Chatters added: ‘It is fitting that the President who proclaimed five national parks in the US enjoyed visiting Hampshire so much and now, 100 years later, these areas he walked in are national parks themselves. It has been great to celebrate these links with so many different organisations and we hope will lead to more opportunities to work together.’

Bill Gannett, a corporate lawyer from New York, said: ‘TR had the strength of his convictions and the ability to see issues – such as what was going to be necessary for species conservation - at a time when other people weren’t.

‘What happened 100 years ago was very exciting and this is an important event to commemorate and re-state in our collective memory.’

The 50th anniversary of the walk in 1960 also had an impact on global nature conservation. It was attended by three eminent naturalists (Max Nicholson, Sir Julian Huxley and Sir Peter Scott) who went on to fund WWF – the world’s leading conservation body - the following year.

Rose Timlett, WWF-UK Freshwater Policy & Programme Officer, said: ‘WWF's founder Sir Peter Scott forged the first links between our conservation charity and the Itchen when he took part in the 50th anniversary of the Grey Roosevelt walk. This historic connection continues today with WWF working to protect special places of UK freshwater biodiversity through our ‘Rivers on the Edge’ campaign. Our rivers are facing threats from climate change and population rise, so it is vital we raise awareness of the connection between the water people use at home and the waters in our rivers. The River Itchen has a rich history and provides a vital resource that we must safeguard for generations to come.’

The centenary walk started with a route along the Itchen River, followed by lunch at Avington Park, a New Forest walk from Stoney Cross to the New Forest Reptile Centre near Lyndhurst, finishing at the Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst where a dinner was held.

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Media Contact
Hilary Makin, Communications Manager, New Forest National Park Authority.
Email: hilary.makin@newforestnpa.gov.uk
Call: 01590 646608