David Attenborough's New Series Secret Garden Delves into British Wildlife
As Sir David Attenborough approaches his 100th birthday, his latest BBC programme, Secret Garden, is set to captivate audiences with an unexpected focus on British gardens. The series, which premieres on 5 April on BBC One and iPlayer, explores five diverse UK gardens, showcasing the rich biodiversity right on our doorsteps.
Relatable Wildlife Close to Home
Series producer Bill Markham notes that Secret Garden might surprise viewers accustomed to Attenborough's global adventures. "There's no lions and tigers," he says, but the show is "much more relatable" as it traces Attenborough's roots in natural history to local gardens. The veteran presenter emphasizes that British gardens can be as diverse as tropical rainforests and cover more area than all national nature reserves combined.
Contentious Conservation Tips
The programme aims to ease eco-anxiety by suggesting practical changes to help wildlife, but some advice may prove divisive. Secret Garden estimates that Britain's 9.5 million pet cats kill approximately 55 million birds annually. Attenborough recommends putting bells on cats, which reduces hunting success by a third, and raising bird feeders to cut deaths.
Markham explains the imbalance: "It's unfair on the prey. Cats are the biggest predator in our gardens, but they're fed every day with no population limits, so the normal predator-prey relationship falls apart." He cites ecologist Dr Davide Dominoni, whose studies show keeping cats indoors during April and May's bird breeding season would "reduce their impact massively."
"We didn't want this to be a preachy series at all," Markham stresses. "Not everyone likes this because they think their cat has a right to be out. There are a lot of cat lovers who feel very strongly. But if you also love wildlife, and we're a nation of animal lovers and gardeners, you can do your bit."
Pheasant Controversy and Ecological Impact
Another episode addresses pheasants, which originate from Asia but see over 30 million released yearly into the British countryside. These birds consume native insects, reptiles, and amphibians, disrupting local ecology. While the countryside lobby argues shooting provides rural jobs, Markham calls pheasants a "scourge" that messes with ecology, contrasting with trends to reintroduce native species like beavers.
Attenborough's Enduring Influence
Such calls to action mirror Attenborough's past successes, such as reducing plastic pollution after Blue Planet II. Unafraid to tackle big issues, he recently condemned industrial overfishing in the film Ocean. Markham believes Secret Garden could be one of Attenborough's most contentious UK-focused shows, but notes the UK loves "animals, gardens, and David Attenborough." If the series encourages people to rethink their gardens, it will be "in no small part due to his influence."
Surprises and Eco-Anxiety Relief
Despite his decades of experience, Attenborough was "surprised by the incredible things living in our gardens," Markham reveals. "Probably the first animal he ever saw was in his garden, setting him on the path to become the world's greatest naturalist."
The show also aims to comfort viewers grappling with eco-anxiety. "A lot of us are worried about climate change and feel there's nothing we can do individually," Markham says. "But you can go into a garden. With 25 million gardens in the UK, 80% of us have access, and you can make one or two little changes." For example, planting a cheap native tree increases caterpillar supply for birds.
Lockdown Inspiration and Garden Diversity
Secret Garden emerged from increased gardening interest during lockdown. Markham calls gardens "unsung heroes" where "the laws of the jungle still apply," with an average patch containing about 2,600 species of animals and plants.
Spectacular Filming Highlights
The series features remarkable footage, including a pine marten hunting sand martins in the UK for the first time, an otter hunting ducks, mayflies and damselflies fighting in a scene reminiscent of Planet Earth II's "snakes v iguana" sequence, and field mice leaving landmarks to navigate home, akin to Hansel and Gretel.
Secret Garden promises to blend education with controversy, leveraging Attenborough's iconic voice to inspire action and appreciation for the wildlife thriving in British backyards.
