Sir David Attenborough wowed a packed crowd in Richmond last weekend when he delivered a speech about butterfly migration.

The world-renowned naturalist spoke in the Duke Street Church on Saturday, May 18, as part of the Environment Trust for Richmond’s Lifecycles talk.

The 87-year-old, a patron of the trust, then signed books for hundreds of fans who queued outside the door to meet him.

The national treasure, who spoke about how butterflies migrate, said he did not have a favourite animal but was fond of insects.

He said: “It’s certainly not butterflies. I don’t have a favourite animal there are too many to choose from.

“I have been doing the same thing for such a long time now and it is a pleasure.”

He was joined by Joe Pecorelli of the Zoological Society of London and Froglife’s Sivi Sivanesan before the three entered into a question and answer session with the audience.

A guest heard how a butterfly starts its life as an eating machine, with ingesting food being its sole function, but as it turns into a butterfly its purpose changes.

Attenborough, whose brother Richard sold his Richmond property two months ago to move into a care home, praised the work of camera technicians on the hit BBC series Africa.

He said: “It was their work really. All I did was provide the commentary.”

He said he was very fond of Indonesia, but would never leave Richmond, his home of 65 years.

He said: “I like going for walks in Richmond Park, not so much Bushy Park though. Although I don’t walk as much as I used to certainly.”

Attenborough is still making programmes and has a 3D show coming out at Christmas.