This is a story of hope in a time of crisis for nature. Commissioned by WWF, the RSPB and the National Trust, and produced by Silverback Films, in Saving Our Wild Isles, Sir David Attenborough shares stories of passionate people across the UK who are working to bring nature back from the brink.
Have you been amazed by the incredible scenes from Wild Isles? We have some truly incredible, yet fragile, nature on our doorstep which needs protecting.
As Sir David Attenborough says: “Every one of us, no matter where we live, can and must play a part in restoring nature to our isles. Never has it been more important to do this for ourselves and our wildlife.”
With UK nature now at breaking point, and the UK amongst the most nature-depleted countries in the world, Saving Our Wild Isles explores our wildlife and wild places most at risk and highlights incredible people across the UK working to help nature recover.
This new breath-taking documentary has been produced by Silverback Films for WWF, the RSPB and the National Trust. It brings to life that the scale and pace of change so urgently needed to save nature in the UK is not only possible – but is already happening.
Whether it’s by bringing a buzz back to farmland, restoring sea grass below the waves, or protecting carbon-storing peatland, when people come together – we can create epic change for nature. The time for action is now.
Saving Our Wild Isles is now available - Watch on iPlayer.
Healthy soils are happy soils
With UK nature in decline, how do we begin to restore? Well, farmland covers around 70% of UK land, compared to the 13% that’s covered in trees - making farmland really important for wildlife.
But our farmland wildlife is dying. Farmland birds like Turtle Doves, Corn Bunting, and Yellow Wagtails have decreased by over 70% since 1970. Our farm practices and policies have been a big part of the problem for wildlife. But if given the support – our farmers will be a huge part of the solution.
When nature wins, so do farmers, and so do we. Healthy soils are vital to all crops, as well as being home to over a quarter of living species on earth. This makes wildlife vital to the UK’s food security. And we’ll see healthy soil in action, on Hill Top Farm in the Yorkshire Dales. For Neil Heseltine, who is part of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, nature is a powerful ally in farming: “There’s undoubtably the feeling that it’s either nature or it’s food production and never the twain shall meet. And I think it’s the opposite of that.” Now on Hill Top Farm, healthy soil supports a wider range of wildlife, stores carbon, and helps to prevent flooding and drought. When we farm with flower power, amazing things can happen.
Pushing aside pesticides
In the UK, we’ve stumbled into toxic territory. Pesticides are everywhere. But it’s our food production that uses the largest amounts of these chemicals. These pesticides can be long-lasting, non-specific, and cause negative effects down the food chain. There are some major black spots in research into these toxic cocktails - which is bad news for some of our most important pollinating insects - who we need on side.
Pollinating insects, like bumblebees and hoverflies, are vital for fruiting crops, like tomatoes and peas. And lots of other wildlife can help with pest management, by chomping down on pest insects. On Lodge Farm, the Barkers, also part of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, are proof that when you utilise its benefits, nature can be powerful for farming. As Patrick puts it: “The ladybirds are doing the work for us here, they are our farm workers.” By reducing pesticide usage, and pioneering other nature-friendly farming methods, we’ll see how the father and son team, the Barkers, farm intensively, while also restoring our wild isles.
Nature needs our voice to be loud and clear in its corner. But right now, not everyone has the chance:
Across the UK, there are growing feelings of disconnect with our natural world. In the end, this means people are less likely to try and save it. But as a nation, we’re crying out for more access - 84% percent of adults in England are in favour of the UK Government increasing the number of accessible nature-rich areas.
But we are in a nature and climate emergency, and we save nature through people: all people. Nature needs diversity. So how can we get more people to connect with nature? Bringing new energy and excitement to conservation, we’ll meet co-founder of Flock Together, Nadeem Perera – a birdwatching collective for people of colour. The group provides a chance for people of colour to get out in nature together and get equal access to the benefits it presents. Nadeem says: “Nature is fast disappearing. It’s under threat in so many parts of the world, if not all of it and it needs all of us on board to protect it. Everybody needs to chip in and do their bit.”
Groups like this, are helping to eliminate people’s barriers to nature - so that they can enjoy it, feel connected to it, and learn more about its vital role. At Cody Dock in East London, six thousand volunteers helped bring back nature to Cody Dock and continue to educate local school children about nature and conservation. Ben, Environmental Manager at Cody Dock said that: “A lot of the kids here live in really nature deprived areas and this space is a link for them to access nature. The space itself gives them an opportunity to learn about what they can find in nature and you know, a place to take a stake in the conservation of nature.”
Across the UK, many of our precious and fragile woodlands are at risk. Centuries of poor management and destructive development have left them, and their inhabitants, vulnerable. Today, the UK has only 13% tree cover, making us one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
But our ancient woodlands are have some really important roles and are home to some of the UK’s most vulnerable species; from fabulous fungi to swirling Starlings. Many animals, like Red Squirrels depend on places like this, and without protection, they’d be at risk of becoming extinct in the UK.
So, in the Scottish Highlands, we’re off to Cairngorms National Park to meet the Cairngorms Connect Partnership, who have a 200-year plan to restore habitats in the area. Because we’ll need nature, its carbon-storing properties, and its biodiversity, as an ally in the coming decades. As Ellie Dimambro-Denson, Monitoring Officer for Cairngorms Connect puts it: “Without nature, we wouldn't be able to survive as a species.”
Nature is our life support system. But our precious wildlife and wild places are on the brink. Let’s pass our wild isles on to the next generation in a better shape than we inherited them. Get inspired by the people power showcased on Saving Our Wild Isles.
Everyone has a part to play in recovering and protecting nature. That means you. There are so many ways you can take action for nature in your community, whatever your availability or ability – from planting trees to speaking up to your local authorities. Together - it’s time to save our wild isles.
