In an exclusive revelation, the star of BBC1's upcoming series Secret Garden has been unveiled as Doris the duck, who appears alongside the legendary Sir David Attenborough. The series, which premieres in the lead-up to Sir David's 100th birthday on May 8, showcases the remarkable biodiversity found in ordinary British gardens, with some areas rivalling tropical rainforests in species diversity.
Doris the Duck's Remarkable Story
The opening episode, set in a 12th-century millhouse in Oxfordshire, follows Doris, a humble mallard who demonstrates extraordinary maternal instincts. Not only does she build her nest 10 feet up in a tree to prevent her eggs from drowning, but she also intervenes to save her nine ducklings from being hunted by an otter. Series producer Bill Markham describes this as "a formidable feat" that highlights the drama unfolding right on our doorsteps.
Groundbreaking Footage and Discoveries
The series captures several firsts in wildlife filming, including the first known footage of an otter hunting ducks in a garden setting. Another astonishing moment reveals ducklings communicating from inside their eggs to coordinate their hatching, a phenomenon Bill Markham calls a "weird miracle." The footage shows the nine fluffy hatchlings jumping from their tree nest at just 24 hours old, landing on a bed of dead nettles before following Doris to water.
Assistant producer Matt Tomlinson initially spotted Doris's nest, which became central to the episode's narrative. "Thank goodness, because she became such a strong character and such a good story," Markham says. The otter encounter brought the characters together in a thrilling sequence where Doris herds her brood to safety and acts as a decoy, successfully diverting the predator.
Sir David Attenborough's Personal Connection
Filmed in a garden in Acton, the series features Sir David Attenborough reflecting on his early experiences with wildlife. "He's still got huge enthusiasm for the subject," Markham notes. "We had a chat about the first animal he ever saw probably being in his garden in Leicester, where he grew up." Even the veteran naturalist made new discoveries, remarking in a note after narrating the river episode: "I won't tell you the number of things I didn't know, but there were a few."
Exploring Biodiversity Across the UK
Secret Garden visits five different homes across the UK, demonstrating that British gardens can host around 140 species of bird, 10,000 species of insect, and 474 species of plant. The series aims to reveal the hidden world thriving in our backyards, often unnoticed by residents going about their daily lives.
Later episodes will showcase a pine marten hunting sand martins in Scotland for the first time and hedgehogs in Bristol benefiting from a special "highway" created by humans—a particular favourite of Sir David, who has hosted hedgehogs in his own garden. Other locations include the Wye Valley and the Lake District.
Inspiring Action and Awareness
Bill Markham hopes the series will inspire viewers to take small steps to support local wildlife. "We've seen a lot of programmes about lions and tigers, and they're great, but I think to have these extraordinary things happening in your garden, it's so relatable," he says. He suggests simple actions like installing a pond or using affordable camera traps (around £30) to discover the hidden world nearby.
"A lot of people have got this anxiety about climate change, and actually this is something they can do," Markham adds. "You can be inspired by this entertaining programme, then you can kind of walk a few yards and actually do something to help."
The series premieres on Easter Sunday at 6pm on BBC1, offering a timely reminder of the wonders lurking in our own gardens.
