David Attenborough features Oxfordshire garden in new show

The hotly-anticipated new series from the legendary writer, broadcaster and natural historian Sir David Attenborough dives into the ‘wild’ on our doorsteps – across the gardens of the British Isles.

Released just a month before his 100th birthday, this latest exploration of the natural world is the closest to home the wildlife advocate has stayed across the some 50 TV credits he’s gathered in his 80 year broadcasting career.

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“Across the British Isles there are magical places, our pride and joy – our gardens,” Sir David said to introduce the show. “Many of us are completely unaware of the wild world right under our noses.

Sir David Attenborough on Secret Garden (BBC/PA)

“Some British gardens are almost as diverse as a tropical rainforest.”

To explore the “extraordinary dramas” of a single garden, the broadcaster journeyed to Oxfordshire for the first episode, visiting The Old Mill House in South Oxfordshire.

Owned by Henry and Sara Manisty, the thousand-year-old mill house is surrounded on three sides by the water of the River Thames.

Because so much of the garden is frequently flooded by the river, much of the land is allowed to ‘run wild’, turning it into a sanctuary for wildlife.

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The episode description said: “Through the eyes of Henry and Sara, beautiful cinematography and immersive storytelling, this episode reveals the astonishing resilience of Britain’s garden wildlife in the face of unpredictable change.

“It is a celebration of how leaving nature to its own devices can turn an ordinary patch of land into a hugely rich and highly rewarding wildlife refuge.”

The episode explores The Old Mill House garden across the seasons of a year, focusing on the wildlife which is drawn to and threatened by the waterlogged land in this “fragile Eden”.

As well as their visit from Sir David and his camera crews, Mr and Mrs Manisty recently welcomed MP Freddie van Mierlo to their riverside home, who said the garden is “incredible”.

Freddie van Mierlo with Henry and Sara Manisty at The Old Mill in South Oxfordshire (Image: Freddie van Mierlo)

“By letting nature take the lead, they’ve created a stunning wildlife haven – home to kingfishers, otters, red kites, bats and more,” Mr van Mierlo said.

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“The programme beautifully captures the drama of life in this ‘wild’ garden, from ducklings navigating floodwaters to mayflies emerging after years beneath the surface.

“It’s an inspiring reminder of what can happen when we give space back to nature.”

The four other episodes in the first series of Secret Garden explore special gardens and the wildlife that live in them in Bristol, The Lake District, The Wye Valley and The Western Highlands.

All episodes are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.