Sir David Attenborough will explore the wildlife of the capital in a new BBC documentary on New Year’s Day, featuring beavers and a harvest mouse in Greenford.
Wild London, a 60-minute programme due to be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 6.30pm on 1 January 2025, follows the 99-year-old broadcaster as he explores the natural history of London, a city he has lived in for 75 years. The programme looks at wildlife thriving in unexpected places, including foxes in Tottenham, parakeets in city parks, snakes along Regent’s Canal and peregrine falcons nesting on the Houses of Parliament.
In Greenford, Sir David visits Paradise Fields, home to the Ealing Beaver Project, which aims to restore wetlands and improve biodiversity in London. Sir David said the project had had a “positive impact” on the area.
Sir David said: “If someone had told me when I first moved here that one day I would be watching wild beavers in London, I would have thought they were mad. But there they are, right behind me.”
Posting on the Ealing Wildlife Group Facebook page, outgoing chair of the group, Dr Sean McCormack said: “Well, the Beaver’s out of the bag now! We hosted a very special guest to come film several of our EWG & Horsenden projects this summer (Hedgehogs, Beavers and Harvest Mice). The Ealing Beaver Project gets a mention and high praise from the man himself here. So tune in on January 1st and you might just see some familiar faces!”
Central Greenford Councillor Aysha Raza said the visit was a boost for the area. Councillor Raza told EALING.NEWS: “We know that Greenford punches above its weight in being one of our greenest towns but to have Sir David Attenborough’s visit and seal of approval is just brilliant. Proof that by working together wildlife dreams do come true.”
The film also shows Sir David gently cradling a tiny harvest mouse in Greenford before releasing it into a meadow. Sir David encourages the animal to scramble on to a wildflower, and said: “Welcome to your new home – there you go.”
Bassam Mahfouz, the London Assembly member for Ealing and Hillingdon, said the programme highlighted the success of rewilding projects in the capital. Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Mahfouz said: “Sir David is absolutely right to highlight the transformational impact beavers have had at Paradise Fields. Thanks to support from the Mayor’s Green Roots Fund, they are thriving in Greenford, proving that with the right local backing, funding and vision, we can truly get our teeth into rewilding London.”
Mr Mahfouz added: “This new round of the Green Roots Fund is building on the brilliant beavers’ success, improving open spaces and restoring our rivers so even more wildlife can make London home. Next up, we’ve seen funding allocated to Crane Valley, where I’m excited to see nature continue to flourish across Ealing and west London, to improve our city for people and wildlife alike.”
The documentary includes a focus on efforts to encourage nature back into the city. Tom Hugh-Jones, the executive producer, said: “Wild London captures that Attenborough magic at its very best, presenting in vision throughout the film, having up-close encounters with animals and talking intimately about his own wildlife experiences.”
