Monty Don embarks on a journey across Spain, discovering gardens across the country’s diverse landscape and exploring its rich and varied history and culture. He will cover more than 4,000 kilometres to visit some of its most interesting gardens, community projects and parks in order to get under the skin of the country. His trips range from historic imperial palaces to cutting-edge modern gardens created by a new wave of Spanish designers working more closely with the landscape and the challenges of the climate. “Spain's history and its landscapes, climates and cultures have huge diversity. And in this series, I want to get under the skin of the country by visiting as many gardens in Spain as I can so I can shed light on this nation's past, its future and its people. The result is a picture not just of its gardens but this fascinating country itself. Dramatic, proud, complex, but always compelling.”
In the third episode of the series, his experience upon joining Real Madrid for the 2003/2004 season is depicted. The episode begins with Beckham receiving a surprising invitation to join Real Madrid, and it narrates his emotions and concerns as he embarks on his career at the club, particularly under a coach who didn't initially want him on his former team. Beckham describes the intense pressure and expectations he faced upon joining Real Madrid, a club with passionate fans who consider the team as a religion. As the season progresses, Beckham grapples with adapting to his new team, facing challenges such as competition for his position and constant media and fan pressure. However, as he gradually acclimates, he begins to earn the respect and affection of his teammates and showcases his prowess on the field. The episode highlights a pivotal moment in his home debut when Beckham scores a celebrated goal, solidifying his place at Real Madrid. Additionally, it delves into the relationship between Beckham and his wife Victoria during this life transition and how his family provided support during this challenging period.
The final episode begins with a description of the extreme cold conditions that characterized the beginning of the Holocene period, and how species like the bison and the wolf adapted to survive in these hostile environments. We will witness the majesty of the woolly mammoth and the fierce cave lion, with a vivid reconstruction of their struggles for survival. We'll see the impact of climate change during this period, from the expansion of the deserts to the transformation of the tropical rainforests of Africa into grasslands, deeply affecting primates and other animals. It highlights how these changes forced primates to adapt to life on the ground, facing new challenges and predators. A crucial turn occurred with the emergence of humans as dominant predators and their influence on the extinction of large mammals. The documentary describes humanity's transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers, a change that radically altered the landscape and biodiversity of the planet. Finally, it poses a reflection on the current challenges of climate change and the sixth mass extinction, inviting viewers to consider humanity's crucial role in shaping the future of the Earth.
The third episode takes viewers on a riveting journey to some of the world's most extreme and breathtaking deserts and grasslands, where nature puts on its most dramatic show. It begins in the arid landscapes of Central Africa's Guelta d'Archei and the Namib Desert in Southwest Africa, places where water is scarce, and survival is a daily battle. The focus then shifts to the remarkable adaptability of creatures like ostriches, who brave the scorching heat and predators to raise their young and a handful of leopards who learned to hunt from trees on the African plains. In Australia, viewers witness the intricate courtship rituals of the spotted bowerbird, a species facing challenges due to climate change. The narrative then takes us to the vast Eurasian Steppe, home to the unique Saiga antelope, and to Brazil's Cerrado, a biodiverse grassland where the elusive maned wolf plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecosystem. The episode highlights not only the resilience and beauty of these creatures but also the fragility of their habitats, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts.
Explore the breathtaking extremes of our planet in this captivating episode. Journey through the vast Hang Son Doong cave in Vietnam, the largest on Earth. Witness the resilience of life in harsh conditions, marvel at the adaptation strategies of species like the blind cave fish and the enduring Arctic wolf pack. In the Arctic, observe the strategic hunt of wolves preying on musk oxen, a dance as old as the Ice Age. In the French Alps, the struggle for mating among common frogs unfolds, showcasing the urgency and challenges faced by cold-blooded animals. Witness the social dynamics of Barbary macaques in the cedar forests of the Atlas Mountains, where survival hinges on social bonds. The forests of Mexico, home to millions of monarch butterflies that huddle for warmth, illustrates the fragility and beauty of nature. Discover how fire shapes ecosystems in South Africa's fynbos and Northern Australia, crucial for the survival of species like the golden-shouldered parrot. The documentary poignantly addresses the impact of changing climates and human intervention on wildlife, from the endangered elephants of Amboseli, Kenya, to the secretive snow leopards of the Gobi Desert. This episode offers a profound glimpse into the extraordinary adaptations and challenges faced by wildlife across the globe, reminding us of the delicate balance and beauty of life on Earth.
This featured episode of the documentary series takes viewers on a captivating journey around the world, showcasing the astonishing ways in which animals adapt to living alongside humans. In Sauraha, Nepal, a rhino navigates through human-inhabited areas in search of food. In Bali, long-tailed macaques have learned to trade stolen items for food, demonstrating their intelligence and adaptability. The bustling streets of New York City are home to pavement ants that thrive on human leftovers, while in India, revered cobras coexist with humans in a unique cultural relationship. Melbourne, Australia, features nocturnal frogmouths benefiting from urban lighting for hunting, and Lake Tahoe in North America sees black bears adapting to easy food sources in human settlements. The documentary also delves into the challenges faced by wildlife due to human expansion and climate change. It highlights the plight of African elephants in Kenya conflicting with farmers, the impact of overfishing on humpback whales in Vancouver Island, and the dramatic increase of desert locusts in northeastern Africa due to climate-induced conditions. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of reimagining our relationship with nature. It suggests a shift towards plant-based diets to reduce agricultural land use and the potential of vertical farming technologies, offering hope and solutions for a sustainable coexistence with wildlife.
“Spain's history and its landscapes, climates and cultures have huge diversity. And in this series, I want to get under the skin of the country by visiting as many gardens in Spain as I can so I can shed light on this nation's past, its future and its people. The result is a picture not just of its gardens but this fascinating country itself. Dramatic, proud, complex, but always compelling.”