The latest series narrated by Sir David Attenborough, ‘Wild Isles, has him exploring the wildlife and environments across the British Isles and Ireland.
The first episode was aired on BBC 1 on Sunday 12th of March whilst controversy was still raging across the media of the Beeb’s decision to broadcast 5 of the programmes with a 6th film, being released on iPlayer only.
Hilary Jeffkins was Series Producer with co production by the RSPB. She said:
“Amazingly, we have 50% of the world’s common bluebells, 85% of its chalk streams, not to mention world class seabird colonies. Over the past three years, in rain and shine, we’ve filmed wildlife in stunning detail. In Shetland orca stalking seals, on Islay white-tailed eagles (pictured) hunting barnacle geese in an epic chase, and we even tried to keep up with the blue flash of a kingfisher as it raced along a stream.”
And that was just in programme 1. All through the series Sir David Attenborough also reflects on what is happening to our environment: how it is affected by decisions made locally and internationally.
What is shown in this series is the magnificence of the wildlife around us but also how through government actions/inactions and those of organisations, industry and individuals we are destroying that which we have come to love.
Attenborough presents us with statistics about the threat to our wildlife and ancient woodlands. England’s great oak trees like the Bowthorpe oak, perhaps over a 1,000 years old.
In Scotland “The oldest yew in the UK is said to be the Fortingall yew in Perthshire. It’s estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, although some believe it could be 5,000 years old. In 1769 the girth was recorded as 17 metres. Although smaller now, it’s still thriving with new shoots growing.” – Ancient tree inventory
Once gone these great trees and the variety of species they sustain will also be gone.
Fiona Grahame
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