Sir David Attenborough to explore Oxfordshire garden for new BBC show this week

TV presenter and conservationist Sir David Attenborough, who is often dubbed a national treasure by fans, is visiting an Oxfordshire garden in an episode of Secret Garden this week.

In the series, Sir David will show viewers the “hidden wild world of Britain’s backyards”.

The Oxfordshire episode is the series’s first of five, and you can expect to see Attenborough visit “a thousand-year-old mill house” in the county, Radio Times explains.

The online summary adds that viewers can expect to see a range of wildlife at the garden.

It adds: “As the winter floods recede, a kingfisher searches for a mate, a vole must evade a range of dangers, and otters and red kites patrol the river, both day and night”.

The new series is one of three that will celebrate the broadcaster’s 100th birthday, which falls on May 8.

Over five episodes across the UK, Secret Garden will capture the rich diversity of life in Britain’s back gardens while also reflecting on how the public can do their bit to save struggling species.

What to expect from Oxfordshire Secret Garden episode

The BBC shared a more detailed summary of what you can expect from the Oxfordshire Secret Garden episode, although it’s not yet clear which Oxfordshire garden Attenborough will explore.

It said: “David Attenborough reveals how animals survive in a garden on the banks of a tributary of the River Thames – a beautiful and seemingly serene location at the mercy of unpredictable floodwaters.

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“As winter’s high water recedes, a male kingfisher battles to survive… but his attention soon turns to attracting a mate and raising a family.

“A shy bank vole emerges to navigate dangers from robotic lawnmowers to predatory grass snakes.

“And Doris, the garden’s resident mallard, must shepherd nine ducklings safely from their treetop nest down to the river below.

“As spring turns to summer, mayflies appear after years underwater – they have just one day to find a mate.

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“Daubenton’s bats catch thousands of insects each night, and Doris continues to protect her brood despite threats from otters and red kites.

“Sudden downpours test the animals’ resilience: kingfisher chicks face flooding in their nest, and the bank vole flees her woodland home.

“At least it’s nice weather for ducks.

“Yet this fragile Eden thrives.

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“Britain’s wildlife is remarkably resourceful, and homeowners Henry and Sara demonstrate how leaving nature to its own devices can transform a riverbank garden into a much-needed sanctuary.”

Making Life on Earth: Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure is another series that will mark Sir David’s milestone birthday.

It will go behind the scenes of the landmark BBC One series, which was first broadcast in 1979 and followed Sir David as he travelled to 40 countries to film 600 species.

The presenter will also appear in David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, a live event from the Royal Albert Hall featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and special guests.

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