Sir David Attenborough to present BBC series focusing on the British Isles

The five-part natural history series, titled Wild Isles, aims to emulate what the Planet series did for the wildlife of the world – inspiring people to “safeguard and restore nature for future generations.”

Filmed over three years, the BBC One series shot using 4K technology will explain the challenges nature faces and what can be done to make our wild isles wilder in the future.

Sir David, 96, said: “In my long lifetime, I have travelled to almost every corner of our planet.

“I can assure you that in the British Isles, as well as astonishing scenery there are extraordinary animal dramas and wildlife spectacles to match anything I have seen on my global travels.”

The natural history series will have an introductory episode explaining why Britain and Ireland are globally important for nature. The remaining four hour-long episodes will celebrate the Isles’ four key habitats – woodlands, grasslands, freshwater and marine.

The series will see new behaviour filmed around the country, including gulls stealing fish from puffins off Northumberland and wild horses battling for access to females in Cambridgeshire.

It will also show blue fin tuna gathering off the coast of Cornwall; black grouse and hen harriers courting in the Cairngorms; red deer stags rutting in one of Ireland’s wildest corners; mayfly hatching on a river in Wiltshire; foxes hunting rabbits at night; and a bee that rides a broomstick in Dorset.

The series will capture the British and Irish countryside using aerial photography, and motion controlled time-lapse photography will highlight the passing seasons.

Low light cameras will reveal the nocturnal lives of animal favourites and macro photography will uncover the miniature worlds of rock pools, ponds and grasslands.

Jack Bootle, head of commissioning, science and natural history, said: “The multi-award winning team at Silverback are creating an eye-opening celebration of British and Irish wildlife that has to be seen to be believed.

“You’ll think a meadow in Somerset is as beautiful as the Serengeti, and the North Atlantic as wild and dramatic as the Antarctic Ocean.”