Chris Packham has backed a charity’s appeal for life or death funding to weather the Covid-19 storm.
The Springwatch star has helped the Scottish Seabird Centre launch a £200,000 fundraising campaign.
Susan Davies, chief executive of the East Lothian-based charity, said it was facing a “financial cliff edge” as it could no longer generate income from visitors and may have to close its doors after 20 years of operation if the target cannot be reached.
The Justgiving campaign has been backed by Packham and fellow TV naturalist Simon King.
The Seabird Centre works on conservation projects such as its hugely successful SOS Puffin, which has helped the critically endangered Atlantic Puffin population recover in numbers.
It also runs an education programme, engaging with more than 4,000 school children each year, and is the most visited attraction in East Lothian with over 260,000 visitors a year.
Although a national charity, the centre gains most of its funding from its not-for-profit Discovery Experience, which was closed just before the official lockdown on 19 March.
Davies said: “We appreciate that these Covis-19 times are unprecedented and extremely unsettling for everyone, but we are facing a financial cliff edge.
“We need public support to help us come through our current closure, the period that should have been the liveliest and busiest part of our year.
“If we cannot secure the funds to see us through the lockdown period, we will have to take the heartbreaking decision to close, losing a 20-year legacy of conservation and education work and a valuable learning and tourism offer for East Lothian and further afield.”
Packham said: “The Scottish Seabird Centre is a fantastic educational facility and visitor attraction. A place where people can learn about the birds, their biology and their conservation... and have a great cup of tea and slice of cake! Making it perfect in any weather!
“And its recent refurbishment has made it even better. Connecting people with nature, generating an affinity for it and then drawing upon this love to prompt proper conservation has never been more important.
“So please do whatever you can to support the centre through these challenging times. Thank you.”
Simon King added his support for the campaign, saying: “The seas around the British Isles, especially those around Scotland, are some of the most important for seabirds in the world.
“Vast throngs of gannets, puffins and many others thrive on a diet of fish and other marine life that abounds in our temperate waters. So much of this extraordinary natural spectacle goes unseen, far beyond shore on remote islands or open water.
“The Scottish Seabird Centre plays a vital role in bringing us closer to the magnificent natural heritage of our seas by providing state of the art interpretation and educational facilities to many thousands of people. It is a bridge between the wild spirits of the ocean and the enquiring minds who want to discover it.
“In addition, it does tremendous work in the field of conservation and protection of this most precious natural asset. It’s survival through these challenging times and long into the future is paramount to our continued appreciation and understanding of the entire marine ecosystem upon which our very survival ultimately depends.
“Please help by supporting this appeal.”
