BBC One viewers were left in awe as Sir David Attenborough returned to screens with his new wildlife documentary series featuring an Oxfordshire garden
Meghna Amin Screen Time Reporter and Katy Hallam
22:13, 05 Apr 2026
(Image: BBC / Plimsoll Productions)
BBC One audiences were delighted by the return of Sir David Attenborough to their screens this evening, as the broadcaster premiered Secret Garden.
The five-part series chronicles the drama taking place in the concealed wild realm of remarkable gardens.
Tonight’s opening episode featured a garden in Oxfordshire, situated within a thousand year old mill house.
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Proprietors Henry and Sara were compelled to allow much of the land surrounding their distinctive home to grow wild, as it spans a tributary of the River Thames.
Due to their strategy, the garden supports a diverse range of wildlife, including otters, kingfishers, and mallards, reports the Mirror.
Nevertheless, their garden also confronts the threat of flooding, leaving a kingfisher fighting to survive and protect his family, nesting only just above the river’s edge.
Meanwhile, a timid bank vole is captured avoiding the hazards of robotic lawnmowers and garden snakes, while Doris the duck battles to keep her nine ducklings alive.
The BBC teased: “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. “
Audiences were left amazed by the opening episode and applauded Sir David’s return. “Absolutely fabulous filming on # BBC1 Sir David Attenborough’s Secret Garden. Amazing Spring river scenes with Doris the Mallard and her river neighbours. Spellbinding!” one viewer wrote.
“Perfect Sunday viewing,” another said, while a third commented: “What a wonderful programme for a Spring Easter Sunday evening.”
Another echoed: “Such amazing photography as well as #DavidAttenborough narration – food for the soul for a Sunday evening.”
Someone else added: “#SecretGarden on @BBC1 is incredible.”
One further viewer wrote: “Watching the new David Attenborough documentary #secretgarden, hard to believe he’s 100 next month.
“The camera quality on this is AMAZING,” another enthused.
Several others were full of admiration for the location, with one writing: “Wish I could live somewhere so beautiful and surrounded by nature.”
Someone else said, “I’m so envious, a dream property for sure,” as another wrote, “What a fantastic house and garden on #SecretGarden.”
Prior to the series broadcast, producer Bill Markham spoke about the significance of having Sir David, who is fast approaching his 100th birthday, lend his voice to Secret Garden.
He said: “As Sir David Attenborough approaches his 100th birthday, having him narrate the series feels both momentous and deeply fitting.
“The first question anyone asks when you’re making a wildlife programme is whether he’s involved – and for good reason.
“Over the past seventy years, he has come to define the genre. For many of us, his films were the spark that set us on this path, so working on Secret Garden at this moment feels particularly special. His involvement has had a profound effect on the production.
“As a team, we’ve undoubtedly raised our standards, mindful that every frame and every line of script would be subject to his careful attention. That knowledge alone has sharpened our focus and ambition.”
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