Hubbry Logo
Wild IslesWild IslesMain
Open search
Wild Isles
Community hub
Wild Isles
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Wild Isles
Wild Isles
Wild Isles
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia
Wild Isles
GenreDocumentary
Narrated byDavid Attenborough
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes5
Production
Running time58 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release12 March (2023-03-12) –
9 April 2023 (2023-04-09)

Wild Isles is a 2023 British television nature documentary series presented by Sir David Attenborough[1] (not to be confused with the 92-minute video Wild Isles, a 2022 Webby Award honoree produced by Newyonder[2]). The five-episode series covers the wildlife of the British Isles. Silverback Films was commissioned by the BBC to create the series, with co-production and part funding from the RSPB, World Wide Fund for Nature and Open University.[3][4] It was filmed over three years in 145 locations across the British Isles.[3]

The Guardian reported ahead of the series' start that a sixth episode would not be broadcast due to a fear of backlash from Conservatives and right-wing media over its themes of destruction of nature.[4] However, the BBC responded that Wild Isles was always planned as a 5-part series, and that the 'sixth episode' was a standalone feature called Saving Our Wild Isles to be released online.[5]

The series received positive reviews from critics.[6][7][8]

Episodes

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal release dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"Our Precious Isles"12 March 2023 (2023-03-12)7.61
In the waters around Muckle Flugga in the Shetland islands, a group of orca named the "27 pod" by researchers have learned to hunt common and grey seals by following them into gullies where the seals sleep. Golden eagles make their home in the Cairngorms in the Scottish Highlands. In the Caledonian Forest a female hazel dormouse climbs an oak to collect honeysuckle for her offspring, and narrowly escapes a tawny owl. In the woodlands, the flowering of common bluebells coincides with the time that young Eurasian badgers come above ground for the first time. Some insect pollinators have evolved a special relationship with certain plant species, such as the hummingbird hawkmoth with the red valerian, the white-tailed bumblebee with bittersweet, and owl-midgeflies with lords-and-ladies. In Gloucestershire, a family of European red foxes play in the hay left behind after the harvest and attempt to catch Summer Chafers and finally hunt a field vole. On the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, 30,000 barnacle geese migrate, and reintroduced white-tailed eagles have learned to hunt them. In and around chalk streams, banded demoiselles mate and a common kingfisher catches common minnows. Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth is home to the largest gannet colony in the world, and the birds catch Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel by dive-bombing the water's surface. In Skomer, Atlantic puffins catch lesser sand eels, which are then stolen from them by herring gulls and black-headed gulls.
2"Woodland"19 March 2023 (2023-03-19)6.78
In a patch of Caledonian Pine Forest in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, some of the last woodland-dwelling golden eagles nest. In winter in the Forest of Dean, hazel dormice hibernate, and wild boar dig through the snow, which allows a European robin to hunt earthworms buried in the frozen ground. In Sussex, male yew trees release their pollen into the wind in vast clouds. In the Scottish Highlands, a male western capercaillie calls to attract females, and fights off a rival male. In a deciduous broadleaf woodland near London, European red wood ants farm aphids for their honeydew. In an ancient cemetery in Surrey, a female European roe deer protects her fawns from a European red fox. In Sussex, a male purple emperor battles with rival males, barely escaping with his life. On the UK's west coast, Atlantic oakwood temperate rainforests grow, in which ash-black slugs mate. In summer in the Caledonian Forest, the pinecones are ripe, and Eurasian red squirrels take advantage of this. In the New Forest, three European honey buzzard chicks grow and learn to raid English wasp nests before they migrate to Africa. Autumn begins, and the deciduous trees lose their leaves; this is the breeding season for European fallow deer. Various fungi now sprout mushrooms and toadstools to spread their spores, and the wood wide web is shown. In a pine plantation next to Bodmin Moor, almost a million Eurasian starlings roost. At night, a common barn owl hunts the starlings.
3"Grassland"26 March 2023 (2023-03-26)6.07
In a field of barley on Islay, European brown hares undergo their courtship rituals, but have to watch out for golden eagles. In the Hebrides, grass keeps the sand dunes intact and protects a vital habitat: machair grasslands. A mixed-species flock of waders, including common ringed plovers, dunlins, northern lapwings, Eurasian oystercatchers and common redshanks work together to repel a common gull, which nevertheless manages to catch an oystercatcher chick. In Cambridgeshire, two Konik pony stallions battle for dominance. A mother field vole gathers food for her young while avoiding a short-eared owl. Two-coloured mason bees lay their eggs inside the empty shells of brown-lipped snails, hollowed out by the larvae of the common European glowworm. The largest colony of European rabbits in Britain can be found in Dorset, and here they are hunted by European red foxes. In a hay meadow in Gloucestershire, the large blue's lifecycle is dependent on the Sabuleti red ant. In the Cairngorms National Park, black grouse lek. In early spring in Northumbria, Common european adders emerge from hibernation and perform their courtship rituals. Back in the Cairngorms, a male hen harrier dances through the air to impress a female. In Ireland's County Kerry, red deer rut.
4"Freshwater"2 April 2023 (2023-04-02)5.37
5"Ocean"9 April 2023 (2023-04-09)5.03

Score

[edit]

The musical score was composed by George Fenton. This was the first time Fenton had composed a nature documentary score since 2011. The five soundtrack albums (one for each episode) contain the following tracks:

Episode 1: Our Precious Isles

[edit]
  1. Wild Isles Introduction / Front Tiles (1:42)
  2. Orca (5:58)
  3. Geology (1:43)
  4. Birds Eye View (2:21)
  5. The Door Mouse (4:29)
  6. Bluebells (1:31)
  7. Pollenating (2:32)
  8. Lords and Ladies (2:43)
  9. Fox Cubs (2:30)
  10. Barnacle Geese (5:31)
  11. Damoiselles (4:15)
  12. Kingfisher (1:44)
  13. Gannets (3:17)
  14. The Puffins (4:04)
  15. The Message (0:44)
  16. Wild Isles Trail (0:26)
  17. Wild Isles End Credits (0:31)

Episode 2: Woodland

[edit]
  1. Opening Titles (0:25)
  2. The Eagle (2:36)
  3. Woodlands (1:53)
  4. Robin's Friend (1:39)
  5. Pollen (2:16)
  6. Capercaillie (4:10)
  7. The Ants (3:55)
  8. Roe Deer (2:37)
  9. The Emperor (2:12)
  10. Strange Love (2:51)
  11. Red Squirrel (3:13)
  12. Honey Buzzard (3:39)
  13. Fallow Deer (2:49)
  14. Fungi (3:56)
  15. Starling, Pt. 1 (2:15)
  16. Starlings, Pt. 2 (2:36)
  17. Wild Isles End Credits (0:31)

Episode 3: Grassland

[edit]
  1. Opening Titles (0:25)
  2. Grassland Intro (0:50)
  3. The Hares (3:21)
  4. The Macca (0:51)
  5. Lapwing Chick (2:39)
  6. The Fens (1:03)
  7. Wild Horses (1:13)
  8. Battling Horses (1:46)
  9. Avoiding The Owl (3:33)
  10. Witchcraft (4:00)
  11. Rabbits and Foxes (5:49)
  12. Invader (4:33)
  13. The Highland Fight (3:49)
  14. Adders (4:15)
  15. Han Harrier (3:53)
  16. Stags (4:54)
  17. Wild Isles End Credits (0:31)

Episode 4: Freshwater

[edit]
  1. Opening Titles (0:25)
  2. Dragonfly and Introduction (2:31)
  3. River Journey (1:47)
  4. Dolphins Chase (1:16)
  5. Upstream and Leaping the Falls (3:01)
  6. Salmon Breeding (1:04)
  7. Beaver and Kits (2:38)
  8. Spidery Courtship (4:52)
  9. Bats at Night (3:33)
  10. Toads Crossing (2:20)
  11. Toadlets (2:34)
  12. Mayfly (4:21)
  13. The Shrew (3:03)
  14. Grebes (3:24)
  15. The Knots (4:13)
  16. Wild Isles End Credits (0:31)

Episode 5: Ocean

[edit]
  1. Opening Titles (0:25)
  2. Marine (Opening) (3:04)
  3. The Seal Fight (3:41)
  4. Exploring the Shallows (1:23)
  5. The Seahorse (1:52)
  6. The Cuttlefish Story (6:18)
  7. Sea Slugs (2:02)
  8. Crabs en Masse (2:22)
  9. The Tides (1:14)
  10. Starfish Hunting (3:30)
  11. Otters (2:47)
  12. Protecting the Home (3:56)
  13. Exotic Creatures Basking Sharks (4:49)
  14. Skilful Hunters (3:20)
  15. Marine (Closing) (1:19)
  16. Wild Isles End Credits (0:31)

Spelling Mistakes

[edit]

Some of the names of the tracks contain spelling errors, e.g. "door mouse" rather than dormouse, "pollenating" rather than pollinating, "damoiselles" rather than demoiselles, "han harrier" vs hen harrier, "macca" vs machair etc.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Wild Isles

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Wild Isles is a British television narrated by , consisting of five episodes that explore the and ecosystems of the and . First broadcast on from March to April 2023, the series highlights the region's diverse habitats—including coasts, ancient woodlands, grasslands, freshwater systems, and surrounding seas—through advanced cinematography that reveals both spectacular and underlying ecological pressures. Produced by Silverback Films in collaboration with , The Open University, and WWF, Wild Isles emphasizes the United Kingdom's position as one of the world's most nature-depleted nations despite its varied landscapes, drawing on extensive fieldwork to showcase species such as peregrine falcons, pine martens, and basking sharks in their natural behaviors. The production garnered acclaim for its visual innovation and for shifting focus from exotic global locales to underappreciated local wonders, achieving strong viewer ratings and critical praise, including a 100% approval rating on for its first season. A companion film, Saving Our Wild Isles, advocating rewilding and policy reforms to address habitat loss, was released exclusively on rather than broadcast on television, prompting controversy over claims of BBC self-censorship to preempt political backlash from conservative audiences or circles skeptical of expansive environmental interventions. The maintained the film was never slated for linear broadcast, but detractors, including in outlets critical of institutional environmental narratives, argued this decision exemplified caution amid debates on and decline statistics presented in the series, such as a reported 60% drop in flying insects over two decades.

Overview

Series Concept and Scope

Wild Isles is a five-part nature documentary series that premiered on BBC One on 12 March 2023, narrated by Sir , examining the wildlife of the across diverse landscapes from isolated offshore islands to the mainland. The series presents the region's ecosystems as dynamic arenas shaped by geographic isolation, post-glacial recolonization, and fluctuating weather patterns, fostering specialized and not commonly found elsewhere in . It structures its exploration around an introductory overview followed by dedicated examinations of four principal habitats: , , freshwater, and marine environments, underscoring how these support interconnected communities of adapted to local conditions such as nutrient-poor soils, tidal extremes, and seasonal inundations. The narrative emphasizes the Isles' status as repositories, where and rarity arise from historical barriers like surrounding seas and legacies, enabling evolutionary divergences in behaviors and physiologies. Verifiable metrics highlight this richness, with the harboring approximately 24,000 insect species alone, many exhibiting hyper-local adaptations, alongside prolific in coastal zones classified as hotspots due to high densities of , , and sustained by nutrient and sheltering archipelagos. These elements collectively frame the series as a catalog of empirical ecological patterns, revealing the Isles' disproportionate contributions to regional faunal variety despite their modest land area.

Key Themes and Habitats Covered

The Wild Isles series underscores the theme of evolutionary adaptation driven by the ' isolation as an , which has fostered unique wildlife behaviors and resilient to insular constraints, such as limited and variable microclimates. This resilience manifests in species-specific strategies for , including elusive predation tactics and specialized , without invoking unsubstantiated narratives of but rather empirical observations of ecological . Seasonal cycles emerge as a core motif, causally linking environmental rhythms—like shifts and daylight variations—to behavioral patterns such as mass emergences of mayflies in freshwater systems or breeding aggregations in grasslands, revealing how temporal dynamics structure food webs and . Interdependence across trophic levels is portrayed through habitat-specific networks, exemplified by ancient oaks in woodlands functioning as carbon sinks while harboring fungal mycorrhizae that enhance for plants and . In grasslands, by herbivores maintains floral diversity, bolstering populations essential for and agricultural stability, while freshwater habitats feature migratory fish runs that connect upstream spawning grounds to downstream feeding zones, sustaining otters and birds. Marine environments highlight tidal fluxes and upwellings near deep-sea vents that concentrate prey for seabirds and cetaceans, illustrating oceanic connectivity to coastal ecosystems. Human-modified features, such as hedgerows established through historical practices, are depicted as integral to mosaics, providing corridors for small mammals and that mitigate fragmentation effects. These elements collectively emphasize factual contributions to continuity, grounded in observable ecological functions rather than selective omission.

Production

Development and Commissioning

The commissioned Silverback Films in 2017 to develop Wild Isles, a landmark five-part series dedicated to the wildlife of Britain and , marking a shift toward documenting regional following the company's global productions such as Planet Earth. The project originated as an initiative to capture empirical observations of native habitats and , prioritizing unscripted behavioral footage over dramatized narratives to highlight the ecological richness and vulnerabilities of the Isles. Co-production partnerships were established with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and , which contributed funding, scientific input, and access to reserves, enabling a comprehensive scope that integrated conservation objectives from inception. These collaborations, formalized prior to principal filming, positioned the series as a platform for evidence-based , with partners leveraging the production to support verifiable habitat restoration initiatives. Sir , drawing on more than 70 years of expertise in , committed to narrating the series during its early development stages, providing authoritative to underscore the observational data gathered. The commissioning emphasized a three-year timeline from conceptualization to delivery, focusing on planning to align with 's factual commissioning priorities for high-impact, domestically oriented content.

Filming Techniques and Challenges

Filming for Wild Isles spanned three years across 145 locations throughout the , from the Islands in the north to coastal sites in and Dorset in the south, enabling capture of seasonal behaviors in diverse terrains. Crews conducted approximately 200 shoots, employing advanced equipment to document previously unseen wildlife interactions, such as pods silently hunting seals in Shetland's kelp channels using gyro-stabilized cameras mounted on vessels. Drones provided sweeping aerial views of rugged landscapes, while thermal imaging revealed nocturnal activities, including foxes pursuing rabbits under cover of darkness and bats' warm bodies during roosting swarms. Underwater, custom-developed systems facilitated time-lapse sequences of seabed dynamics and close-up footage of , alongside stabilized rigs for tracking otters fishing in coastal waters. Macro cinematography addressed minute-scale challenges, such as filming the heat-generating spadix of Lords and Ladies flowers to attract pollinators, requiring precise timing with cameras synced to peak temperatures. Custom hides, including camouflaged boxes with remote-controlled doors, minimized human presence during sensitive shoots like wild horse confrontations, adhering to protocols that prioritize non-intrusive observation to avoid altering natural behaviors. These methods yielded verifiable captures of rare events, such as coordinated predation tactics, without reliance on staged sequences common in some historical productions. Production faced significant logistical hurdles from the UK's variable , which disrupted schedules through persistent , , and storms, contrasting with more predictable conditions in tropical filming. sequences encountered turbulent seas and shifting currents, complicating access and equipment deployment for like seals and orcas. The relative scarcity of certain demanded extended stakeouts in fragmented habitats, amplifying weather-related delays, while teams navigated permissions in ecologically sensitive zones to ensure compliance with conservation guidelines that limit disturbance. Despite these obstacles, the approach emphasized empirical documentation, with innovations like electric buggies equipped with gyro-stabilized rigs enabling stable footage in uneven terrains without vehicular intrusion.

Broadcast

Original Airing and Distribution

Wild Isles premiered on in the on 12 March 2023, with the first episode airing at 7:00 p.m. BST. The five-episode series aired weekly on Sunday evenings, concluding on 9 April 2023. Each episode was made available simultaneously on for on-demand streaming. The premiere episode drew 5.74 million viewers on , making it the most-watched program of the day. Including iPlayer streams, the first episode amassed over 10.7 million views within the initial 30 days. Internationally, distribution rights were acquired by through a deal with Banijay Rights, excluding the . The series premiered on Prime Video in the United States on 21 April 2023 and became available in over 240 countries and territories. This global rollout was supported by co-productions with entities such as , facilitating broader accessibility beyond initial broadcast.

Companion Content and Omissions

A companion titled Saving Our Wild Isles, narrated by and running approximately 30 minutes, was produced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and The Open University following the completion of the main five-episode series in 2023. The film summarizes declines in British habitats such as woodlands and freshwater systems, drawing on data from the series' research to highlight species losses and restoration needs. It was made available exclusively on starting March 2023, without inclusion in the linear television broadcast schedule. The classified Saving Our Wild Isles as a separate acquisition rather than an integral episode, citing the predefined five-part format of the core series—each episode approximately long—as the structural reason for its exclusion from broadcast television. Production partners, including the RSPB and WWF, advocated for its television airing to broaden reach on environmental restoration, but the maintained it as supplementary iPlayer content aligned with their digital distribution strategy. Additional companion materials included behind-the-scenes documentaries detailing filming processes across habitats, released via platforms to complement the series' production insights. Educational resources, such as online modules and habitat-specific guides co-developed by , were provided for schools and public engagement, focusing on themes like biodiversity and conservation without extending the main narrative. No further omissions from the broadcast series were reported beyond the strategic limitation to five episodes, with all primary footage integrated into the aired content or specified extras.

Episodes

Episode 1: Our Precious Isles

The first episode of Wild Isles, titled "Our Precious Isles," introduces the series by examining the geographic and climatic influences that have shaped the of the British and Irish Isles, emphasizing their isolation and varied as drivers of without delving into specific behaviors. Narrated by , it aired on on March 12, 2023, with a runtime of 57 minutes. The episode employs aerial to showcase remote islands and coastlines, highlighting how the Isles' nature—from rugged Scottish stacks to southern estuaries—supports concentrated populations amid a compact land area of approximately 243,000 square kilometers. The ' current biodiversity stems from post-glacial recolonization following the around 20,000 years ago, when ice sheets covered much of the region, with isolation occurring as sea levels rose about 8,200 years ago due to melting glaciers, severing land bridges to . This separation fostered localized adaptations, though remains low—fewer than 20 strictly endemic terrestrial vertebrates and vascular plants exist, reflecting repeated glaciations and historical connectivity rather than long-term isolation typical of oceanic islands. Climatic gradients, from temperate oceanic in the west to more continental in the east, combined with topographic diversity including over 7,700 kilometers of coastline, create microhabitats that sustain higher species densities per unit area than many continental regions, with the Isles hosting around 60,000 insect species despite limited landmass. Key sequences feature marine mammals and seabirds on peripheral islands, such as pods of killer whales (Orcinus orca) collaboratively hunting grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) off western coasts, where seal populations number over 120,000 individuals in the UK alone, concentrated in breeding colonies like the 13,000 seals observed at Blakeney Point in . Remote outposts like the Shetland Islands' Muckle Flugga illustrate avian strongholds, with puffin (Fratercula arctica) colonies facing from great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus), while golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) scavenge in Highland uplands, their populations rebounding to about 500 breeding pairs through conservation since the . These vignettes underscore evolutionary timelines, with many species tracing post-Ice Age colonization from southern European refugia within the last 10,000–12,000 years, resulting in subspecies divergences rather than full . The episode conveys themes of ecosystem interdependence, portraying the Isles as a mosaic where oceanic currents deliver nutrients supporting coastal breeding grounds that link to inland food webs, and notes human historical influences such as prehistoric forest clearance beginning around 5,000 years ago, which reduced woodland cover from near-total post-glacial dominance to fragmented remnants. Ancient woodlands, persisting in areas like Atlantic oakwoods, exemplify relict ecosystems from the early , harboring specialized invertebrates and lichens adapted over millennia, though overall human modification has intensified . This foundational portrayal sets a tone of appreciation for the Isles' evolutionary heritage while grounding the series in observable, interconnected natural processes.

Episode 2: Woodland

The episode delves into the woodlands of the , which, despite comprising less than 13% of the land area, harbor exceptional due to their structural complexity and microhabitats. It portrays seasonal progression—from spring canopy renewal and nesting to autumn leaf fall and mammal rutting—underscoring causal chains where tree decay fuels fungal and insect proliferation, sustaining higher trophic levels. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, the program aired on on March 19, 2023, emphasizing empirical interconnections in understory dynamics over isolated species portraits. Ancient Caledonian pinewoods in , exemplified by remnants in the , feature prominently as relict ecosystems supporting interdependent communities. Pollen records from bogs confirm Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) expansion into northern around 8,500 years ago, following post-glacial recolonization, with some stands representing continuous cover. These forests host mycorrhizal fungi forming symbiotic networks with pine roots for nutrient exchange, alongside bark-dwelling insects like pine weevils that initiate decay cycles—empirically observed to progress from sapwood colonization within months to full heartwood breakdown over 50–100 years, providing sequential habitats for and fungi. Mammals such as red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) exploit these resources, constructing dreys (leaf-and-twig nests) in canopies for year-round shelter, with footage capturing rare internal views of drey construction using pine needles and moss. Woodland mammals exhibit adaptive behaviors tied to seasonal availability, including the autumn rut of fallow deer (Dama dama), where stags clash antlers in dominance displays to secure mates, filmed in southern English copses. In the Forest of Dean, reintroduced wild boar (Sus scrofa) rootle soil, exposing invertebrates that European robins (Erithacus rubecula) opportunistically forage, restoring a trophic interaction absent for approximately 400 years due to historical extirpation. Predators like golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) nest in exposed pine snags along forest edges, with eaglets fledging after 10–12 weeks of provisioning on small mammals and carrion, their success linked to old-growth tree stability. Woodland birds, including pine martens' prey species like crossbills (Loxia curvirostra), show irruptive movements akin to migrations, triggered by cone crop fluctuations every 3–5 years. Human interventions have shaped woodland resilience, with —periodic stem cutting at ground level—demonstrably increasing plant and diversity by generating light gaps that favor early-successional over shade-tolerant ones. This practice, historically widespread in broadleaf woods, creates structural heterogeneity: new shoots support browsing mammals and nectar-rich flowers attracting pollinators, while stools provide refuge for hibernating , yielding 20–50% higher abundances in managed versus unmanaged stands. The episode contrasts this with modern replanting of , advocating diverse mixes to mimic natural succession and enhance fungal--tree symbioses, as uniform plantations reduce diversity by 30–40% compared to mixed ancient woods. Such management counters fragmentation, where only 2% of original persists, preserving decay-driven nutrient recycling essential for .

Episode 3: Grassland

The third episode of Wild Isles, titled "Grassland," originally aired on on March 26, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. BST. Narrated by , it focuses on the open pastoral landscapes of Britain and , portraying grasslands as human-managed habitats essential for rather than pristine . The episode traces ecosystems from coastal machair flower meadows in the Scottish —characterized by nutrient-poor sandy soils supporting diverse wildflowers—to upland moors and mountain expanses, illustrating how by herbivores maintains plant diversity and against encroachment by shrubs and trees. Key wildlife interactions highlighted include brown hares boxing in meadows during breeding season, where males clash s in ritual combat to establish dominance, and juvenile hares evading predation by golden eagles on Islay's open terrain, with eagles using thermal updrafts for hunting dives reaching speeds over 100 mph. Pollinators such as bees, hoverflies, and thrive in these flower-rich swards, where short-turf exposes sources; for instance, bees nest in sparsely vegetated , benefiting from the habitat's low-nutrient conditions that favor over 200 wildflower species per site. populations in burrows support predators like short-eared , whose hunting success correlates with prey abundance influenced by vegetation height variations from seasonal . Red deer stags in mountainous s engage in rutting clashes, their bouts exerting selective pressure on communities by preventing dominance of coarse grasses. The narrative underscores causal dynamics of herbivore grazing on grassland health: moderate pressures from livestock or wild ungulates aerate soil, recycle nutrients via dung, and suppress woody invasion, fostering higher plant diversity than ungrazed or intensively farmed areas. Empirical data featured aligns with studies showing rotational grazing systems yield greater arthropod species richness—up to 30% more ground-dwelling invertebrates—compared to intensive monoculture, where uniform mowing and fertilizers reduce floral variety and pollinator forage. Post-agricultural abandonment in marginal lands has enabled butterfly population surges, with species like the marsh fritillary increasing in unmanaged tussock grasslands due to reduced mechanical disturbance, though the episode emphasizes sustainable farm management, such as low-density livestock rotations, as more viable for scaling biodiversity than rewilding ideals, citing metrics of 50+ plant species per square meter in grazed meadows versus under 10 in plowed fields. Soil organic matter accumulates faster under rotational regimes, enhancing carbon sequestration by 1-2 tons per hectare annually over continuous intensive use.

Episode 4: Freshwater

Episode 4 of Wild Isles examines the dynamic ecosystems of British rivers, lakes, wetlands, and ponds, emphasizing how flowing water shapes habitats and supports specialized wildlife adaptations. Narrated by , the episode traces freshwater's path from upland burns in the to lowland mudflats in , highlighting species reliant on current-driven processes such as sediment deposition and nutrient cycling. It aired on on April 2, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. A central focus is the epic upstream migration of (Salmo salar), which battle fast-flowing rivers to reach spawning grounds, navigating obstacles like waterfalls and weirs. The episode features unprecedented underwater drone footage capturing salmon leaping and holding position in torrents, revealing their physiological adaptations for oxygen extraction in low-oxygen waters. These runs, peaking in autumn, sustain predators and scavengers while depositing marine nutrients inland, but populations have declined by over 50% in many rivers since the 1980s due to barriers, , and predation. Beaver (Castor fiber) reintroductions demonstrate restoration potential, as their dams impound water, reduce flood peaks by up to 30% in managed trials, and foster wetland mosaics that boost invertebrate diversity. Once extinct in Britain by the 16th century from overhunting and habitat loss, beavers were reintroduced starting in 2009 in Scotland and England, with dams creating ponds that salmon can bypass via overflow channels, enhancing overall river resilience. The episode contrasts this with human stressors like water abstraction, which has reduced UK river flows by 20-50% in drought-prone catchments, and nutrient pollution from agriculture, where phosphorus levels exceeding 0.1 mg/L trigger algal blooms far beyond natural eutrophication rates of 0.01-0.03 mg/L annually in undisturbed systems. Insect emergences, such as mass hatches of mayflies and dragonflies, drive seasonal booms in food webs, with hobbies (Falco subbuteo) preying on swarms at velocities up to 40 m/s. Rare streams, fed by constant at 10-12°C, support unique communities like Desmoulin's whorl snails, though abstraction has lowered water tables by 1-2 meters in the South East since 1970. Restoration efforts, including river re-meandering to restore natural and flood cycles with return periods of 1-5 years, have increased smolt production by 200-300% in pilot projects on rivers like the . Raft spiders (Dolomedes fimbriatus) ambush prey on water surfaces, while Daubenton's bats (Myotis daubentonii) lek over ponds, and leeches prey on toadlets in temporary pools.

Episode 5: Ocean

The fifth and final episode of Wild Isles, titled "Ocean", aired on on April 9, 2023, shifting focus from terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems to the marine environments surrounding the British and Irish Isles. Narrated by , it highlights the transition to vast oceanic scales, where tidal forces, deep currents, and the North Atlantic Drift shape habitats far exceeding the bounded inland systems explored in prior episodes. The episode underscores the Drift's role in transporting warm waters northward, maintaining sea surface temperatures around 10–15°C off western coasts and enabling subtropical species incursions, such as occasional sightings of sunfish or , amid a baseline moderated climate that contrasts with colder polar influences. Coastal shallows feature prominently, including dense kelp forests—among Europe's most productive, with fronds exceeding 2 meters in height and supporting hotspots for , urchins, and grazers. These underwater canopies, filmed using underwater drones and stabilized cameras, shelter juvenile and pollack while buffering wave energy, though natural predation by seals maintains population balances rather than unchecked proliferation. Basking sharks, the second-largest species globally and the largest in British waters at up to 12 meters long, aggregate in summer blooms off the west coast, filtering 2,000 tons of water hourly for copepods without the seen in smaller pelagic stocks. colonies, such as those of guillemots and razorbills on sheer cliffs, rely on these nearshore abundances, with chicks fledging after consuming thousands of sand eels daily, illustrating trophic links disrupted more by avian predation cycles than solely human quotas. Deeper waters reveal phenomena like the annual migration of crabs, where millions crawl across seabeds in synchronized hordes over a few days, evading predators through sheer numbers and molting shells for growth. Advanced filming, including rigs, captures open-ocean dynamics influenced by the North Atlantic Drift's warming, which has extended seasonal peaks by 1–2 weeks since 1980, correlating with shifts in distributions rather than uniform declines. Commercial fishing's regulatory framework, via EU-UK quotas aligned with International Council for the Exploration of the Sea advice, has driven recoveries in stocks like haddock (biomass up 300% from 2006 lows by 2020) and Celtic Sea herring, where total allowable catches reduced to 20–30% of peak levels allowed natural replenishment exceeding predation losses. These outcomes contrast alarmist narratives by demonstrating quota adherence yielding sustainable yields of 10–15% of biomass annually in rebounding populations, prioritizing empirical stock assessments over modeled catastrophes.

Music

Score Composition

The musical score for Wild Isles was composed by , a veteran scorer of documentaries including previous series such as and Planet Earth. Fenton created over three hours of original music, predominantly orchestral in nature, characterized by lush, lyrical, and expressive passages that incorporate elements of charm, whimsy, and playfulness to reflect the habitats' auditory essence. Fenton's approach emphasized a fully orchestral palette tailored to evoke the distinct moods of British and Irish ecosystems, with sustained strings and steady tempos fostering atmospheres of calm and isolation in tracks associated with and settings. He prioritized music that felt indigenous to the , integrating sweeping dramatic motifs and subtle low-register tones for emotional depth without relying on synthetic elements. The score's subtlety was highlighted in its design to complement rather than dominate the narration, earning the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Award for Best Original Score for a in 2024. Soundtrack albums for individual episodes, featuring cues like "Wild Isles Introduction/Front Titles" and habitat-specific themes, were released starting in March 2023.

Technical Elements of Soundtrack

The soundtrack employs layered bioacoustic elements, including recordings of vocalizations such as bird calls and sounds, integrated with orchestral motifs to evoke authentic ecological soundscapes. These layers create unusual sonic beds that mimic natural environmental acoustics, as seen in cues inspired by like orcas and barnacle geese, prioritizing subtlety over embellishment to underscore the inherent drama in unaltered habitat noises. Sound mixing adopts a restrained dynamic range, favoring minimalist swells—described as achieving "subtle majesty"—to avoid overpowering the poignant quality of ambient field recordings from the British Isles, thereby reflecting realistic propagation of sounds in diverse terrains like woodlands and oceans. This approach contrasts with more bombastic trailer-like elements in prior natural history productions, emphasizing causal fidelity to source audio over heightened emotional manipulation. Distinct from expansive, globally oriented scores in earlier Attenborough series, the Wild Isles audio design incorporates local instrumentation with Celtic and pastoral inflections, such as lines and harp evoking British folk traditions, to ground the mix in regional sonic identity while supporting high-fidelity authenticity.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Critics lauded Wild Isles for its groundbreaking and unprecedented close-up footage of British and Irish , capturing behaviors such as breeding orcas and golden eagles in remote habitats with techniques that even surprised the . The series aggregated an 86% score on from five reviews, reflecting universal acclaim for its visual innovation and ability to evoke awe through majestic scoring and clever narrative framing of species interactions. The Guardian awarded it five out of five stars, praising the "stunning portrait" of diverse ecosystems like chalk streams and ancient woodlands, which highlighted empirical details such as the 1,046-year-old . Reviewers in and similarly commended the "wonder-inducing" quality and adherence to high standards in depicting bold creature behaviors, such as white-tailed eagles preying on geese. Balanced critiques acknowledged technical achievements but pointed to familiar Attenborough tropes of dramatic wonder paired with selective emphasis on declines, such as a 60% drop cited from a non-peer-reviewed study without noting counter-data like stable or increasing populations from long-term surveys. described the series as "beautifully shot" yet critiqued omissions of proliferations, such as deer, and broader contexts, arguing for more comprehensive empirical balance over narrative focus on loss. These views underscored praise for factual portrayals while questioning unsubstantiated hype in decline claims lacking full contextual data.

Audience Metrics and Awards

The premiere episode of Wild Isles, broadcast on on March 12, 2023, drew 5.74 million viewers, making it the most-watched program on British television that evening. Including streams, the episode reached 10.7 million views within its first 30 days of availability. The series as a whole achieved a 28-day consolidated average of 8.2 million viewers per episode, reflecting sustained engagement on both linear television and streaming platforms. Internationally, Wild Isles became available via streaming services, contributing to broader global reach, though specific viewership figures outside the remain undisclosed in public reports. Silverback Films, the production company behind the series, received the 2023 MIP SDG Award from MIPTV for its contributions to environmental storytelling and . Composer George Fenton's score for Wild Isles earned the International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) 2023 award for Best Original Score for a , as announced in February 2024.

Controversies

Debate Over Omitted Episode

"Saving Our Wild Isles", a 53-minute narrated by , was produced in 2023 by Silverback Films in collaboration with the WWF, RSPB, and , summarizing key environmental declines across the , including the loss of 97% of wildflower meadows since the 1930s. The program was released exclusively on on 10 March 2023, coinciding with the broadcast of the main five-episode Wild Isles series on , without any changes to the airing of those episodes. The BBC maintained that "Saving Our Wild Isles" was a separate initiative from the core series and had always been planned for online-only distribution to fit the five-episode television format, denying claims that it was withheld from broadcast due to anticipated backlash. However, reports citing senior sources indicated the decision was influenced by concerns over potential criticism from right-wing commentators and government figures regarding the program's emphasis on human-induced and calls for restorative action. Attenborough aligned with the BBC's position, rejecting assertions that the program was pulled to avoid controversy. Conservation partners utilized the film to launch the "Save Our Wild Isles" campaign on 13 March 2023, advocating for policy changes to reverse losses, though they did not publicly contest the 's distribution choice. The referenced risks of viewer fatigue from extending the series beyond its structured length as a factor in the iPlayer placement.

Critiques of Environmental Messaging

Critics have argued that Wild Isles prioritizes a of anthropogenic over of recoveries attributable to targeted policies, such as controls and . For instance, the series highlights declines in species like s while understating their dramatic rebound: otter populations, which plummeted by up to 90% in the mid-20th century due to accumulation, have since recovered to occupy most suitable s following the bans on organochlorines like , with genetic studies confirming population expansion from fragmented refugia. This recovery, driven by causal interventions rather than natural variability alone, exemplifies policy efficacy often sidelined in favor of broader decline tropes. The omission of the England-focused episode from initial broadcast—later released online—illustrates tensions in messaging, as producers intended to balance destruction narratives with conservation triumphs, such as rewilding and protected areas fostering species rebounds, but BBC executives withheld it amid concerns it might provoke backlash by appearing overly optimistic. Environmental advocates, including groups like WWF-UK, critiqued this episode for potentially diluting urgency, yet skeptics contend such framing reflects institutional bias toward alarmism, ignoring data on stable or increasing populations in managed landscapes. For example, gamekeeping practices, which involve predator control and habitat enhancement, correlate with higher bird diversities—averaging 13 species in managed woods versus 10.4 in unmanaged ones—contributing to rebounds in ground-nesting species amid broader predator rises. Further critiques target the series' portrayal of insect declines, presenting contested 60% loss figures as unassailable despite methodological flaws in underlying studies, such as reliance on non-standardized sampling that overlooks regional recoveries and natural fluctuations. This approach, attributed by some to deference to consensus-driven prevalent in media and academia, omits benefits from traditional land uses like farming and , which sustain through rotational practices and cull predator pressures, as evidenced by nationwide surveys linking game management to trophic enhancements. Proponents of emphasize causal realism—disentangling human impacts from inherent dynamics—arguing that verifiable successes, like marine protected areas boosting , warrant equal airtime to foster over generalized catastrophe narratives.

Impact

Conservation and Awareness Outcomes

The Wild Isles series, broadcast on starting March 12, 2023, reached more than 10 million viewers in the , contributing to heightened public awareness of native and habitats such as woodlands, grasslands, and coastal ecosystems. Early assessments indicated this exposure spurred an increased appreciation for local species, with viewers prompted to recognize the fragility of British through vivid depictions of endemic and . The premiere episode alone drew 5.74 million viewers, marking it as one of the highest-rated programs of the evening and amplifying calls for immediate attention to domestic . In response, the Save Our Wild Isles campaign—launched March 13, 2023, by WWF-UK, RSPB, and the —mobilized public engagement through practical resources, including downloadable spotter guides for species featured in the series, such as and seals, aimed at encouraging outdoor exploration and identification of local wildlife. A contemporaneous poll commissioned by the campaign found 76% of adults worried about nature's decline, correlating with heightened interest in short-term actions like visits and involvement. Educational tie-ins extended to schools via live lessons and habitat-focused programs, fostering hands-on learning about regional ecosystems without relying on unsubstantiated projections of sustained behavioral shifts. The campaign further facilitated direct support for grassroots efforts, securing £1 million from on March 30, 2023, for a fund to finance local nature restoration projects, such as enhancement and monitoring initiatives across the . Business-oriented tools were disseminated to help organizations evaluate their environmental footprints and integrate sustainable practices, exemplified by partnerships yielding 353 million impressions through targeted efforts. While these outcomes emphasized collective awareness of proximate threats to , RSPB data noted inspirational effects on viewer sentiment toward local conservation, tempered by the need for verifiable individual-level actions amid critiques that broad messaging risked evoking diffuse responsibility without granular, personal guidance.

Broader Scientific and Policy Influence

The Wild Isles series contributed to heightened policy discourse on restoration, inspiring the People's Plan for Nature campaign launched in 2023, which collected over 200,000 public submissions to shape government strategies for habitat protection and species recovery. This initiative aligned with broader efforts under the Environment Act 2021, including the development of Local Nature Recovery Strategies aimed at creating interconnected wildlife networks across by 2025, though direct causal attribution to the series remains indirect through raised public urgency rather than specific legislative mechanisms. Complementary campaigns like Save Our Wild Isles, initiated by WWF and RSPB in March 2023, advocated for policy reforms such as expanded protected areas and reduced agricultural impacts, drawing thematic inspiration from the series' depiction of fragmented habitats without formal endorsement. In scientific research, Wild Isles spotlighted understudied British species and ecosystems, such as rare marine habitats and , prompting academic and institutional calls for UK-focused studies to counterbalance global emphases on tropical or oceanic environments. For instance, the series featured research on coastal conservation, integrating data on kelp forests and that informed subsequent peer-reviewed analyses of temperate marine recovery potential. This coverage challenged prevailing biases toward international hotspots by highlighting empirical data on Britain's depauperate yet resilient and , encouraging targeted fieldwork on like pine martens and water voles that receive less funding than elsewhere. Critics, including conservation skeptics, have argued that the series' emphasis on dramatic declines—such as unsubstantiated insect apocalypse claims—may divert research funding toward alarmist modeling over verifiable, intervention-driven successes, potentially exacerbating institutional preferences for pessimistic narratives amid left-leaning biases in environmental academia. A proposed follow-up episode on wildlife losses, filmed post-Wild Isles, was withheld from BBC terrestrial broadcast in 2023 due to concerns over political backlash, illustrating tensions in how such media shapes grant allocations away from pragmatic habitat management. In contrast, empirical outcomes from targeted programs underscore causal efficacy: Natural England's Species Recovery Programme, active from August 2023 to March 2025, invested £13 million to support recoveries in over 150 threatened species through translocations, captive breeding, and habitat enhancements, achieving measurable population uplifts in taxa like brown hare and pearl-bordered fritillary via volunteer-led actions totaling 100,000 hours. As of August 2025, these efforts—prioritizing evidence-based interventions over broad eco-pessimism—have stabilized species on the brink of national extinction, demonstrating that localized, data-driven policies yield tangible results independent of media-driven hype.

References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f0t5dp
  2. https://silverbackfilms.tv/shows/wild-isles/
  3. https://connect.open.ac.uk/wildisles/
  4. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/wild_isles/s01
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/10/david-attenborough-bbc-wild-isles-episode-rightwing-backlash-fears
  6. https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/bbc-david-attenborough-wwf-rspb-open-university-b2298430.html
  7. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-the-new-attenborough-series-doesnt-tell-you/
  8. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64860842
  9. https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/wild-isles-release-date-presenter-episode-guide-trailer-and-all-we-know
  10. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/wild-isles
  11. https://www.wwf.org.uk/wild-isles
  12. https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/wild-isles
  13. https://www.field-studies-council.org/shop/publications/insects-of-the-british-isles-guide/
  14. http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/marinehotspots.pdf
  15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320722000179
  16. https://www.open.ac.uk/blogs/news/science-mct/see-the-british-isles-like-never-before-in-new-ou-bbc-series-wild-isles/
  17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/natural-history
  18. https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/travel/where-was-wild-isles-filmed/
  19. https://www.time-lapse-systems.co.uk/news/fantastic-locations-in-the-new-bbc-one-david-attenborough-series-wild-isles/
  20. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-episode-two-woodlands/
  21. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-episode-one-whats-it-all-about
  22. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-filming-locations
  23. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-producer-hilary-jeffkins
  24. https://www.televisual.com/news/bts-silverbacks-bbc-landmark-wild-isles/
  25. https://www.shetland.org/blog/bringing-the-wild-isles-to-life-shetland
  26. https://www.countryfile.com/news/wild-isles-david-attenborough
  27. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/feb/25/wild-isles-david-attenborough-bbc-wildlife-series
  28. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/wild-isles-episode-5-ocean
  29. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/04/new-david-attenborough-series-about-uk-likely-to-be-his-last-on-location
  30. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-series-premiere-watched-by-over-5-74-million/
  31. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-episode-1-views-over-10-7-million/
  32. https://www.thewrap.com/prime-video-bbc-david-attenborough-series-wild-isles/
  33. https://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/press-release/prime-video-acquires-rights-to-british-nature-docu
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23844450/
  35. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/environment/bbc-david-attenborough-wwf-rspb-open-university-b1066488.html
  36. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f0tcfq
  37. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23853452/
  38. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-episode-one-our-precious-isles/
  39. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277379114002078
  40. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9298239/
  41. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-47951-6
  42. https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/blog/wild-isles-guide/
  43. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/372441743_How_glaciation_impacted_evolutionary_history_and_contemporary_genetic_diversity_of_flora_and_fauna_in_the_British_Isles
  44. https://betterplaneteducation.org.uk/factsheets/britain-s-disappearing-habitats-britain-in-the-past
  45. https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/ancient-woodland/
  46. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f21jy9
  47. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/wild-isles-episode-2-woodland
  48. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-episode-two-whats-it-all-about
  49. https://forestryandland.gov.scot/media/2eallnw4/12-appendix-xii-caledonian-pinewood-plan.pdf
  50. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17550874.2021.1984601
  51. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2023/03/wild-isles-woodland/
  52. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/trees-plants/what-is-coppicing
  53. https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications/management-creation-woodland-biodiversity/
  54. https://www.forestryjournal.co.uk/news/23397825.wild-isles-david-attenborough-calls-diverse-woodlands/
  55. https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/habitat/H91C0/
  56. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f21gyt
  57. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-episode-three-grassland/
  58. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/wild-isles-episode-3-grassland
  59. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2023/03/wild-isles-grasslands/
  60. https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/uks-glorious-grasslands
  61. https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/agriculture/cattle-grazing-at-low-intensities-promotes-biodiversity/
  62. https://www.nffn.org.uk/resources/grazing-management-to-preserve-pastures-grasslands
  63. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731122002282
  64. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-episode-four
  65. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-episode-four-freshwater/
  66. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/wild-isles-episode-4-freshwater
  67. https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2023/03/wild-isles-freshwater/
  68. https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/wild-isles-episode-four-the-uks-fabulous-freshwaters
  69. https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/landing/freshwater
  70. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f21klc
  71. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23853462/
  72. https://www.discoverwildlife.com/tv/wild-isles-episode-five-whats-it-all-about
  73. https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wxfacts/North-Atlantic-Drift-Gulf-Stream.htm
  74. https://subslikescript.com/series/Wild_Isles-23844450/season-1/episode-5-Ocean
  75. https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/wild-isles-episode-five-the-uks-awesome-oceans
  76. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2023/15/wild-isles
  77. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2024GL113871
  78. https://new-economicsf.files.svdcdn.com/production/files/Fair-Fishing-United-Kingdom.pdf?dm=1555342848
  79. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X22001221
  80. https://www.classical-music.com/features/tv-and-film-music/wild-isles-music-theme-tune
  81. https://leftlion.co.uk/features/2024/03/wild-isles-bbc-concert-orchestra-review/
  82. https://moviemusicuk.us/2023/03/15/wild-isles-george-fenton/
  83. https://www.icancompose.com/inspiration/wild-woodland/
  84. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0f8ggdt
  85. https://www.movie-wave.net/wild-isles/
  86. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt23844450/awards/
  87. https://awardsdaily.com/2024/02/22/international-film-and-music-critics-awards-announces-winners/
  88. https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/13/first-soundtrack-album-for-bbcs-wild-isles-released/
  89. https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0fgdcy9
  90. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25734300-800-wild-isles-review-david-attenborough-turns-focus-to-uk-and-ireland/
  91. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/12/wild-isles-review-david-attenborough-beautiful-tour-of-britain-is-unmissable-tv
  92. https://www.metacritic.com/tv/wild-isles/
  93. https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/tv/2023/03/david-attenborough-meets-britain-boldest-creatures-wild-isles-review
  94. https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v45/n09/thomas-jones/on-the-sofa
  95. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2023/planet-earth-iii-reaches-10-6-million-viewers
  96. https://silverbackfilms.tv/silverback-wins-miptv-sdg-award/
  97. https://filmmusiccritics.org/2024/02/ifmca-award-winners-2023/
  98. https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/landing/grasslands
  99. https://watch.plex.tv/movie/saving-our-wild-isles
  100. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fd45w7
  101. https://www.dorset.live/news/dorset-news/attenborough-wild-isles-episode-pulled-8240206
  102. https://www.wwf.org.uk/press-release/save-our-wild-isles-campaign-launched
  103. https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2782493-uncovering-the-genetic-history-of-british-otters
  104. https://restoreourplanet.org/blog-post/from-silent-spring-to-revival-the-recovery-of-britains-otters/
  105. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9753835/
  106. https://www.gwct.org.uk/media/1251254/Gamebird-Releasing-Report-2021.pdf
  107. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1617138124002371
  108. https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scottish-mail-on-sunday/20230402/282080576102066
  109. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10166649/
  110. https://www.gwct.org.uk/media/1095291/NGOGWCT-Survey2019-final.pdf
  111. https://silverbackfilms.tv/wild-isles-helps-drive-a-momentous-win-for-uk-nature-conservation/
  112. https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-us/annual-report/five-stories-you-wont-want-to-miss
  113. https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/schools/schools-resources
  114. https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/
  115. https://www.wwf.org.uk/press-release/save-our-wild-wild-isles-community-fund-launches
  116. https://www.catchdigital.com/work/wwf-rsbp-national-trust-save-our-wild-isles
  117. https://www.performancemarketingworld.com/article/1830201/aviva-used-creative-paid-social-raise-awareness-britains-decaying-nature-353-million-impressions
  118. https://www.weforum.org/stories/2023/04/attenborough-people-s-plan-nature-uk/
  119. https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/30/blueprints-for-natures-recovery-all-systems-go/
  120. https://www.zsl.org/news-and-events/feature/our-wild-isles
  121. https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/research/researcher-featured-in-marine-conservation-film/
  122. https://news.exeter.ac.uk/faculty-of-environment-science-and-economy/how-can-the-uk-restore-its-wild-isles/
  123. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/10/britain-wildlife-crisis-bbc-david-attenborough
  124. https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c5ypkx206r4o
  125. https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2025/08/13/the-species-recovery-programme-capital-grant-scheme-a-natural-england-partnership-success-story/
  126. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/13/collective-endeavour-natural-england-tony-juniper-conservation
  127. https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blog/threatened-species-benefit-from-multi-million-pound-investment-to-aid-their-recovery
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.