Wild Isles – Grasslands

This documentary episode follows David Attenborough across Britain and Ireland’s grasslands, revealing the species that create these landscapes and the extraordinary lives they support. From chalk grassland in southern England to the machair of the Outer Hebrides and the mountains of southern Ireland, the film moves between intimate behaviour and large seasonal spectacles. Snail shell nesting bees, breeding waders, semi wild grazing horses, large blue butterflies, lekking black grouse, courting adders, and rutting red deer together tell a wider story of fragile habitats under threat, with 97 per cent of species rich meadows lost in the last century.

Wildlife cameraman Simon King contributed specialist field cinematography to the programme. His role focused on capturing sensitive and hard to film animal behaviour through long term observation, ecological knowledge, and careful camera placement, allowing key sequences to be filmed without disturbing vulnerable species or habitats.