Happy Earth Day!
Today marks the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, having first been observed on April 22, 1970. Given that many of us are currently self-isolating, and perhaps not too keen to spend a lot of time outside right now (it is rainy, and wet, and basically still winter in some of the states…), what better way to celebrate earth day than with a selection of nature themed programs that you can stream from the comfort of your couch! From delightful English gardening shows to traditional, and not-so-traditional, nature documentaries, there is sure to be something out there that inspires everyone to take greater care of our home, aka the planet we call Earth… Enjoy!
Netflix
Dancing with the Birds (dir. Huw Cordey, 2019)
This is about as silly as documentaries come. Basically, Stephen Fry narrates bird ‘porn.’ Yes, you read that correctly, this documentary follows and captures the intricate mating dances of some of this planet’s strangest and (dare I say) most beautiful birds. Prepare to laugh and be amazed at the length some birds will go to, to attract a mate…
Amazon Prime + Britbox
Gardeners’ World (Seasons 50-52, 2018-Present)
This one is for all you Great British Baking Show fans, but with less competition, and loads more serene and relaxing views of the British countryside. Yes, you do need to add the Britbox channel to your Amazon Prime subscription, but it will be well worth it for the plethora of delightful content that you can then have access to and stream with abandon. Gardeners’ World is currently hosted by Monty Don, who is a delight to listen to, whilst making you wish that you had a bit more of a green thumb to tackle the various gardening projects featured in each episode…
Disney+
All things National Geographic and Disneynature Films...
There are too many great ‘family-friendly’ nature themed programs on Disney+ right now. From recent additions to their Disneynature film series, including Elephant (2020) and Penguins (2019), to a whole bunch of National Geographic documentaries, there is something for every nature enthusiast, from the youngest generation to those (supposedly) much wiser and grayer around the temples... Next up, I’ll probably be checking out the latest National Geographic piece on Jane Goodall, titled Jane Goodall - The Hope (2020).
Hulu
Hubble 30th Anniversary (2020)
A mini documentary that celebrates the launch and deployment of the Hubble telescope, examining its scientific and technological achievements, and the ways that astronomy has not been the same since April of 1990. An interesting look at a historic milestone in space exploration.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax (dir. Hawley Pratt, 1972)
“The Lorax,” first written by Dr. Seuss in 1971, is the book to help introduce children and younger readers to the side effects of human and industrial destruction, the need for activism, and the concepts of environmentalism. This TV special captures the spirit of this beloved children’s book and is a must watch for any film, TV, or Dr. Seuss fan.
In what ways will you observe Earth Day, and/or Arbor Day (coming up this Friday)? What are your thoughts on my ‘Earth Day’ film and TV selections? What will you do to clean up our planet? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment below!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane
