Locals on the Morecambe seafront were left stunned after a giant portrait of Sir David Attenborough appeared etched into the sand, just before the broadcaster’s 100th birthday.
The vast artwork, on Morecambe’s South Beach, shows Sir David’s face alongside one of his best‑known environmental quotes and was only fully visible from the air.
It was spotted on Wednesday evening by resident Andy Creer, after his wife messaged to say that people were drawing writing on the sand and urged him to get his drone up.
Andy, who only bought his palm‑sized drone about a month ago, admitted he initially thought it would be "a load of kids drawing a stick man with a massive head or something".
From ground level near his home, he says the marks on the beach looked like scuffs in the sand.
"When I flew the drone over it was like, wow, that’s impressive," he said.
"You can’t really tell what it is from the side, but once you get above it and see the whole thing it’s unbelievable.
"The shading on the jacket, the lines of the writing, it just looks like a pen and ink drawing, but it’s all in sand."
His images show the tribute stretching across the beach below the promenade, with two small figures standing within the design to give a sense of scale.
Social media users quickly picked up the photos, calling the work "an amazing tribute to a remarkable man".
One commenter wrote: "Well done to all concerned, fabulous idea x", while another added: "Happy 100th birthday for tomorrow Sir David Attenborough.
"Incredible art for an incredible man xx."
Others marvelled at the skill involved. "Have they used a drone to see their drawing from the air as they draw it?" asked one.
"Whoever did that piece of art has certainly got some great skills.
"Very well done.”
Andy said he did not see the artists at work himself, but believes a professional sand art collective may have been involved. "From what people have put on Facebook, it was people with rakes who did it" he said.
"I’ve been reading about a group called Sand In Your Eye who do artworks in sand, they’ve done things in Blackpool and for the Eden Project, which makes me wonder if it could be something to do with them."
By the time he arrived on Wednesday evening, only a couple of people were stood in the middle of the portrait, with the rest of the beach largely empty. More visitors headed down on Thursday morning once word spread and images began circulating online.
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The tribute comes as events are held across the country to mark Sir David Attenborough’s centenary on Friday, May 8, celebrating a career that has brought the natural world into homes for eight decades through landmark series including Life on Earth and Blue Planet.
For Andy, who bought the drone to document a three‑week campervan trip around Italy later this year, the unexpected find has already helped to justify the purchase.
"Last night was the first time my wife was saying ‘you’ve got to get the drone up’," he laughed.
"I just wish I’d seen how they actually did it."
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