I don't think that our admiration for David Attenborough at EKO Diena can be overstated, or could be fail to be noticed by any regular readers. So, whenever there is a new project featuring the beloved broadcaster and environmentalist we get a little bit excited. Today, a week ahead of Earth Day, he takes to the screen again as the voice of a fascinating new documentary about the effects of a year of human lockdown on the natural world. 'The Year Earth Changed' features exclusive footage from around the world after a year unlike anything in recent times. It takes a fresh view of the global lockdown and instead of showing the human frustration and tragedy, instead shows some of the uplifting stories of the natural world that have come out of it. Those include whales communicating in new ways because they can actually hear each other, and penguins roaming the streets in South Africa. While we haven't been able to interact with each other in the way we are used to, people all over the world have had the chance to engage with nature like never before. The documentary also shows how changes in human behavior, like reducing cruise ship traffic, closing beaches a few days a year, and identifying more harmonious ways for humans and wildlife to coexist, could have a profound impact on nature. This film is a love letter to planet Earth, highlighting the ways nature bouncing back can give us hope for the future. Asked by BBC Science Editor David Shukman what message he hoped that people would take away from the film, Attenborough replied: "That human beings, even with the best will in the world, cannot but restrict the natural world. That's what we're doing, we're pushing it aside, even the most considerate of us. That's almost inevitable to some degree but let us realise that we are intruders, that we are latecomers, and that the natural world actually by-and-large would do much better if we weren't there at all." In the same interview, he asserted that at the COPP climate conference this year nations have to come together and agree that big changes have to be made and that people will need to give things up. Attenborough then insisted that he receives far more praise than he should, with the plaudits for the programs he narrates being deserved far more by the natural world itself and the camera-people who capture it. Although he has publicly declared himself to be "a BBC man" in the past, over the last few years David has made shows for Netflix, as well as briefly embracing Instagram. While it was produced by the BBC Natural History Unit, this new film was made for and will be released on Apple TV. If you happen to have that service then you can find the show to stream right now, if not then let's hope that it's available somewhere else sometime soon.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene There are quite a bunch of them…. I liked: Racing Extinction Virunga Home (2009) 🎥 🌍

New Attenborough narrated film shows how lockdown has affected wildlife

John

I know there are a few David Attenborough fans on here…

@Žaklīna @Aiga @Skylar @Piri @Egle-K @Julie Brooks-Girskiene @So Veli

This new documentary looks really interesting, have any of you seen it yet, and any thoughts?

Piri

John

Already added to the film recommendation list! And will be watching soon. It is an interesting approach and hopefully some ideas will be considered.

Estonia already closed some part of the street to make sure the frogs will migrate safe 🐸 🇪🇪 🌍

Aiga

John I know there are a few David Attenborough fans on here…

💚 him.

He is very busy these days, new movies and speeches all of the time.

Apple TV though? I will have to find it somehow.

Žaklīna

John

I just saw this last night because I was babysitting for a friends kids and they have Apple TV.

It is really nice to see something that has a positive message but is still realistic and not only all happy and bouncy.

John

Aiga He is very busy these days, new movies and speeches all of the time.

Yep, a new Netflix documentary voiced by him was just announced as well that will be on in the summer - Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

Should be interesting too.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Just watched it, beautiful as they always are, a highly recommended way to spend an hour of a weekend afternoon.

Piri

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

For sure. As Sir is so busy last years I wonder what the new documentary/film will be about.

Skylar

💚 💚 Sir David

I did not see this but read a lot of stories on how nature is better after lockdown. Keeping lockdown forever is not so much a possibility though so what now, it just goes back to how it was.

Piri

Skylar

Hopefully we will make some changes considering the positive impact on the nature it was during lockdown. Like deer feeding or other animal feeding just for a chance to take a picture shouldn't be allowed. Or during the breeding time same areas could be closed. Maybe a couple of weeks per month with no production. It is not a lot but makes the differences.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Does anybody have any other recommendations for nature documentaries, they don't have to be with DA, I think I have watched most of his recent ones.

Piri

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

There are quite a bunch of them…. I liked:

Racing Extinction
Virunga
Home (2009)

🎥 🌍

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Piri

I don't think I've seen any of those three!

Also just realised that maybe I should go and look in the whole long discussion about environmental films, but maybe that's not the same thing. I don't always need a message or to hear about the doom we face, but I do like looking at frogs, tigers and monkeys doing their natural thing.

Piri

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Not all of them are about deep messages! 😁😁😁

Usually BBC nature documentaries are very impressive.

So Veli

Looks interesting 💚

AppleTV has some things I want to watch but I got Netflix and am not going to pay for another one or change.

Piri

So Veli AppleTV has some things I want to watch but I got Netflix and am not going to pay for another one or change

I feel you! Probably all of us! Honestly I don't know from where my husband got it, but we watch it.

A couple days ago I found out that A Perfect Planet is on the natural TV channel in Lithuania, so it is for free and everyone can watch it! But I am not so sure 🍏 TV will give that apportunity.

Egle-K

Piri Honestly I don't know from where my husband got it, but we watch it.

😆 Sure you don't 😉

Aiga

John Yep, a new Netflix documentary voiced by him was just announced as well that will be on in the summer - Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

Excited about this one, its based on work of Professor Johan Rockström, if you don't who he is google him, he's like a ninja of sustainability science.

Piri

Egle-K

It is better not to know! 😉 So you don't feel so bad about it!

So Veli

I found that you can get a 7 day trial free for Apple TV, so you just need to work out anything you want to watch on there, make a list and do the trial.

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Actually all of these networks have free trials I think, so you can just work your way through them all, a different one every month! 😁

So Veli

Julie Brooks-Girskiene

Yes, am planning to 😉

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