Sir David Attenborough has expressed his sadness at the prospects for Britains environment following the countrys vote to leave.

The countrys top naturalist has previously ruled out commenting on the referendum in any form, despite focus groups saying the wildlife broadcaster was among the most trusted public figures on the issue.

But in his first intervention on the referendum, when asked about the potential impact of Brexit on the environment Attenborough told the Guardian: That is sad. Swallows arent members of the union, and migrant birds and so on.

Throughout the campaign, environmentalists have been largely united in proclaiming the environmental protections guaranteed by EU membership. Attenborough said he was hopeful that international conservation efforts would not be hampered by the UK leaving the EU. One just hopes that collaboration on these issues, conservation issues, will transcend political divisions, he said.

He said he hoped the EUs two key protections for wildlife, the birds and habitats directive, would stay in UK law. I hope so, and I hope it may be possible for us to do so, he said.