Sophia Pasetti, Benedict-Cumberbatch and Olly-Bengough at Koko [Dave Bennett/Getty for the Koko Foundation]

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EDWARD Abbey held radical anarchist views, and his writing helped thousands of people to take up environmental action.

And although the American author, political thinker and atheist philosopher died in 1989, his work continues to inspire – including, it appears, Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Sherlock actor chose a letter written by Abbey for a reading at the Koko music venue on Thursday night. While the nightspot in Camden High Street may be known for rock gigs and dance nights, the Letters Live event was part of a series in which famous faces bring the magic of letter-writing to life.

On this occasion, Koko hosted the show to promote the work of its charitable arm which is focusing on environmental action in Camden. Mr Cumberbatch has been appointed as an ambassador of the Koko Foundation, and the letter he chose advises owners of all four-by-fours to send them to the bottom of the ocean.

“Dear Ms Shute,” the letter begins. “Thinking about your request for suggestions on great four-wheel-drive trips, I find that I cannot really help you much. There were some good ones: down Baja California before the Mexicans paved the road; from coast to coast through central Australia; from Algiers to Capetown in Africa; and into the many odd corners of the Great American Desert in our own South-west. “But now I find that I am weary of such adventures.”

Koko in Camden High Street

He explains that “…the Jeep, the Blazer, the Bronco, the Land Cruiser, the Ram and all their many four-by-four cousins have become a plague upon the land. The ideal off-road journey? I’ll tell you: under water. I would like to see every four-by-four on Earth, every three-wheeler, every dirt bike, trail bike and Big Foot truck driven straight into the Mariana Trench, 3,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, and parked there for the duration.”

Mr Abbey’s letter added: “What’s wrong with the horse? Or the burro? Or the bicycle? Or even, God help us, the human foot?”

Mr Cumberbatch said: “I have been in­spired to watch the amazing im­pact that Foundation has quietly had over the past few years, making real and lasting change in Camden. This eve­ning is a fraction of what the Foundation can do, when we all come together to champion important causes, and I am excited and committed to growing the special work being done and scale the foundations work around the country, and the world.”

Another speaker, Cate Blanchett chose a letter by another American author, Helen Keller, penned to the New York Symphony Orchestra in 1924 thanking them for a performance. Idris Elba chose correspondence from saxophonist John Coltrane, while Damian Lewis selected a missive from crime novelist John le Carré to his wife.

As part of the venue’s fundraising push, an auction including lunch and a set visit with Mr Cumberbatch and a guitar lesson from Wyclef Jean, are currently being sold.

Lots and bids can be found here: www.kokofoundation.com