Throughout the three-part (60′) series, ‘The Secret Life of Trees‘ delves into the evolutionary journey of trees, exploring the intricate art of their growth and ageing gracefully as they transition from young trees into their mature years. The documentary will showcase some of their remarkable attributes, such as the secrets of how they communicate, how they drink, how they thrive in an often challenging environment and how some of the three trillion trees on our planet are as old as the pyramids.
The first episode, which will be broadcast this evening on Friday, July 25th at 9pm on Channel 5, delves into the secrets lives of young trees. The episode focuses on the transformation of seedlings from diminutive seeds, into mature, majestic adults. With less than one in a thousand seeds reaching adulthood, the programme highlights how the initial stages of a tree’s life present the most perilous challenges.
Narrated by the renowned actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter, Michael Palin, the series features experts such as Tony Kirkham, the former Head of Arboretum, Gardens & Horticulture Services at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the ecologist Connor Butler. Filmed over the course of a year, the series was filmed in various locations across the UK and Europe, including Belvoir Farm in Bottesford for the pollination of elderflowers, and Preston Park in Sussex, where they captured Elm trees.
‘The Secret Life of Trees’ was commissioned by Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor, Non-Scripted UK Originals, Channel 5 & Paramount+, and produced by Helene Docherty and Lucy Carter from Voltage TV and Melanie Darlaston, Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment.
