Sir David Attenborough thrilled a packed audience at the weekend with a fourth annual family lecture.

This year his chosen subject for the lecture, organised by the Environment Trust, of which he is patron, was communication in the animal world in all its various forms.

He told tales of the behaviour of Lyre Birds and Fireflies, Honeyguides and Ratels, as well as domestic animals.

Sir David was followed on the stage by Joe Pecorelli of the Zoological Society of London and Buglife’s Matt Shardlow.

After a lively question and answer session Sir David emphasised the crucial importance of organisations such as the Environment Trust, which provides the opportunity to do something positive for the environment, which he said was “the source of our greatest joy and the source of our of very existence”.

Chairman John Anderson said: “We are privileged to have Sir David as our patron and pleased that he has drawn attention to the importance of people doing whatever they can to help protect the environment.

“By joining the Environment Trust, by volunteering with us, people of all ages can play their part in securing the future environment for next generations.”