Follow the story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their four-hundred-year-old estate. The young couple battles entrenched tradition and dares to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature.

Wilding airs Wednesday, April 22 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book by the same title, WILDING tells the story of a young couple, Charlie Burrell and Isabella Tree, who bets on nature for the future of their failing, 400-year-old estate.

The couple finds that their land and soil, once fruitful and full of life, has been decimated by decades of plowing and chemicals used in the modern farming industry. They discover the land needs a complete overhaul that can only be done by letting it go back to its ancient, natural processes and introducing ancient wildlife species that once roamed there freely. Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a mix of animals both tame and wild, in the hopes that their beloved family estate can return once again to its former glory and more, showing the audience what the enchanting and ancient countryside of England should be. The film documents this grand experiment which became one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe.

Photo: Isabella Tree, as played by Rhiannon Neads, meets a Tamworth pig sow at Knepp Estate. Credit: Tim Cragg

In the remote wilds of northern Kenya, follow the remarkable journey of orphaned elephants at Reteti, the first community-owned elephant sanctuary in Africa.

Nature “Becoming Elephant: The Orphans of Reteti” airs Wednesdays, April 8 & 15 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Raised by Samburu keepers who act as surrogate parents, these elephants, many rescued from poaching, drought, or human-wildlife conflict, are nurtured back to health and prepared for life in the wild.

From tiny calves taking their first bottle to older elephants practicing the skills needed for their release, the two-part series captures intimate moments of struggle, healing, and transformation. Meet characters like Long’uro, a calf who lost his trunk to a hyena attack, and Kelele, whose illness nearly derails his future. With the help of a whole community rallying behind them, witness a powerful tale of healing, hope, and the deep bond between people and animals.re. 

Baby Steps I Wednesday, April 8
At Reteti Sanctuary in Kenya, the team helps a disabled orphan elephant named Long’uro find his confidence, nurses a sick calf back from the brink, and manages an unexpected encounter inside an enclosure.

Graduation Day I April 15
As Reteti Sanctuary prepares to release its oldest orphans into the wild, a baby elephant is rescued from a waterhole. An orphaned zebra finds hope, and Long’uro and friends learn how to survive the challenges of the dry season.

Discover and celebrate the beauty of our natural world through the original music of composer Tim Janis, with inspiring messages from Sibylle Szaggars Redford, Robert Redford and Dr. Jane Goodall on the special human connection to nature and the importance of preserving our planet

Tim Janis: Our Natural World — Returning to Earth airs Friday, April 10 at 10 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Tim Janis: Our Natural World — Returning to Earth takes viewers on an awe-inspiring visual journey through varied scenic landscapes – from snowy mountains and rich forests to sparkling coastlines and serene lakes. Visual storytelling and narratives with guest artists capture and portray a deep connection and wonder for the planet we share, inspiring a reconnection and love for nature. 

A contemplative, visually rich documentary that follows five University of Rochester medical students across the four years of their education as they grapple with a timeless question: what does it mean to become a healer?

The Healer’s Journey airs Monday, April 6 at 9 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Set against the often unseen emotional landscape of medical training, the film explores identity, doubt, compassion, and purpose—universal human themes that extend far beyond medicine. Alongside the pressures of learning a demanding profession, the students reflect on loss, resilience, moral courage, and the tension between technical mastery and human connection. The narrative culminates in a powerful metaphorical journey: a walking pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain, where the students step away from institutions and expectations to reflect—together and alone—on who they are becoming.

The film is directed and produced by David Marshall, founder of Blue Sky Project Films, a multi-Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker and Michael (Mick) Krasner, MD, FACP is a physician, educator, writer, and filmmaker.

Repeats Saturday, April 11 at 4 p.m., Sunday, April 12 at 4 a.m., and Monday, April 13 at 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV and the WXXI and PBS Apps.

Henry David Thoreau helped define modern environmentalism and nonviolent resistance, yet his life has been obscured by myth.

Henry David Thoreau Sunday, April 19 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the WXXI and PBS apps.

Binge this three-part, three-hour film directed by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers, and executive produced by Ken Burns and Don Henley, examines the life and work of the 19th-century writer. Set against the political and social tensions of the mid-19th century, the film traces Thoreau’s journey from his early days in Concord, Massachusetts to his deep engagement with the moral crises of his time, including industrialization, slavery, war, and environmental degradation. Through his essays, journals, and landmark works such as Walden and Civil Disobedience, he became an inspiration for generations of writers, thinkers, and activists. 

The Count of Monte Cristo is an epic new TV adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ iconic French novel, one of the greatest revenge stories ever told.

MASTERPIECE “The Count of Monte Cristo” airs Sundays, March 22-May 10 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and streams live on the PBS and WXXI apps.

Sam Claflin (Daisy Jones and the Six) stars as Edmond Dantes, a nineteen-year-old sailor who, when falsely accused of treason, is imprisoned without trial in a grim island fortress off Marseille, France. After many years of captivity, Dantes finally escapes and discovers treasure, making him one of the richest men in the world. Under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, he plans to take revenge on those who wrongly accused him.

Ana Girardot stars (The Returned) as Mercedes, Jeremy Irons (The Borgias) as Abbé Faria, and Blake Ritson (The Gilded Age, The Crown, Indian Summers, Emma) as Danglars. The series is directed by two-time Palme d’Or and Oscar®-winner Bille August.

Photo: Edmond Dantès (Sam Claflin), Credit: Paolo Modugno