David Attenborough Celebrates 100th Birthday With New Series

As Sir David Attenborough approaches his centenary, the beloved naturalist brings attention back home with a new BBC series titled Secret Garden, set to air on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026. The five-part series, co-produced by the National Trust and the Open University, explores the abundant wildlife residing in ordinary British gardens, including the garden of Bristol resident Louise Vergette.

At 100 years old, Attenborough has traveled the globe documenting exotic animals and plants, but for this series, he focuses on the hidden biodiversity that exists just beyond our doors. "Across the British Isles, there are magical places that are our pride and joy, our gardens. Yet many of us are completely unaware of the wild world right under our noses," he states in the series introduction.

Louise Vergette, a 68-year-old artist and wildlife enthusiast, expressed her excitement about her garden being featured. "I felt so honoured and privileged that my very ordinary garden was chosen to feature in David Attenborough’s programme. It shows just how much wildlife lives in it," she said. Her garden is home to a variety of species, including great tits, blue tits, frogs, and hedgehogs.

Vergette has made her garden a welcoming habitat by installing at least six nesting boxes and creating a pond for frogs and newts. She has also collaborated with her neighbors to establish a "hedgehog highway," allowing the spiny mammals to navigate between gardens safely. This initiative is particularly important as hedgehog populations have drastically declined, with estimates showing that fewer than one million remain in the UK today, down from about 30 million in the past.

In the series, viewers will follow a female hedgehog as she traverses through 16 gardens in search of a mate, eventually leading to the birth of a healthy litter of hoglets. This narrative highlights the importance of interconnected gardens for wildlife survival.

Louise also enjoys the company of an urban fox, which roams a territory encompassing around 100 gardens in her neighborhood. With approximately 2,000 foxes inhabiting Bristol, the show aims to shift the perception of these creatures, often viewed as nuisances, by illustrating their role in urban ecosystems.

Interestingly, Secret Garden also addresses the less favorable impact of domestic cats on local wildlife. Sir David notes that up to 55 million birds are killed annually by the 9.5 million pet cats in the UK. He suggests that putting bells on cat collars can reduce their hunting success by a third, a point that has sparked debate among pet owners and animal advocates.

During a discussion on GB News, host Stephen Dixon expressed his annoyance at Attenborough's recommendation to keep cats indoors, arguing it goes against their natural instincts. Journalist Candice Holdsworth countered that similar advice has been issued in countries like New Zealand to protect local bird populations.

Regardless of the mixed reactions, the series aims to inspire viewers to rethink their gardening practices and the impact they have on local wildlife. Rebecca Bevan, an environmental horticulture expert with the National Trust, emphasizes the potential of gardens to support diverse ecosystems. "Our gardens really do have a meaningful role to play in supporting wildlife," she said. "They occupy over half a million hectares, which is larger than the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales combined."

Bevan encourages gardeners to adopt a more natural approach, advocating for gardens that are "a little looser and a little wilder," allowing wildlife to thrive. She urges homeowners to avoid using harmful pesticides and slug pellets, which disrupt local ecosystems and eliminate food sources for birds and insects. “If people only do one thing, I would say, ‘please do not use bug spray or slug pellets,’” she advised.

Vergette, who battles slugs and snails in her garden, shares her own eco-friendly methods, including a humorous beer trap to deter pests. "You put a small amount of beer in a little dish or tray and at least you know they died happy," she laughed, adding that she tries to minimize her use of such traps.

As the series progresses, viewers will be introduced to various other gardens across the UK, including one that features an elusive otter, spotted only twice in 30 years by its owners. The filming of wildlife, as Vergette learned, requires immense patience from the camera crew, who often endure challenging conditions to capture nature's wonders.

The series celebrates the beauty and richness of local gardens and serves as a reminder of the pressing need to protect these environments. The decline in insect populations, for example, has seen a staggering 60% drop over the past two decades, leaving many species without a reliable food source.

As the premiere of Secret Garden approaches, it stands to be a poignant tribute to both Attenborough's legacy and the natural world that surrounds us. Louise Vergette captures this sentiment perfectly: "It’s about making sure there are places for them to live and food to eat – and you will be surprised at how quickly they turn up." With the series, viewers are invited to create their own wildlife-friendly havens, fostering a greater connection with the natural world.

As Attenborough himself reflects on his long career, he continues to inspire generations to appreciate and protect the biodiversity that exists within our own backyards. Secret Garden a heartfelt exploration of this very theme, airing on BBC One and available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.