Channel 5 has commissioned a 3 x 60’ series charting The Secret Life of Trees (wt) from Voltage TV, and GroupM Motion Entertainment.
Filmed over the course of a year, the series travels throughout the UK and Europe “exploring the hidden world of Earth’s incredible tree population.”
The series examines how trees communicate and care for each other; how they survive from seedling to mature giant, and in some cases, “experiencing extraordinary metamorphoses.” Over three episodes the series will examine trees so old they were growing when the pyramids were still being built, trees that can tell the time, and trees that pass on memories to young saplings.
“I find it staggering that there are trees on this planet that have been alive for over a thousand years. Just imagine what that tree has seen in it’s lifetime. Trees have an incredible mystery and romance to them as well as a fundamentally essential role in the cycle of life,” commented Lucy Willis, Commissioning Editor Channel 5 and Paramount+. “This is a real passion project for me and I hope when people watch this series they’ll fall in love with their captivating majesty.”
“Trees are far more sophisticated than most of us realise – I can’t wait for this series to reveal some of their extraordinary behaviours”, said Helen Docherty, Executive Producer for Voltage TV.
Melanie Darlaston, Executive Producer for GroupM Motion Entertainment said: “It’s a joy to be part of a series that unearths some incredible facts about trees. We have come to understand how important trees are in combatting global warming, but who knew that trees gasp when they are thirsty, that they can produce anti-freeze in minus temperatures and that trees have their very own underground WhatsApp system to warn others when they are under attack from drought or disease? Respect!”
The Secret Life of Trees (w/t), is a 3 x 60’ series 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.
Jon Creamer
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