Filmwork for the National Trust

SCOPE:

Our shared passion for sustainable forestry and local timber use led to a collaboration with Grown in Britain on a National Trust project, funded by the Forestry Commission’s Innovation Fund. The initiative explored how the Trust can make better use of timber from its extensive woodland estate; combining ecological woodland management with practical, circular use of materials.

The project aimed to connect three essential elements: trees, people, and habitats by uncovering and sharing examples of how local teams within the Trust were already using site-grown timber to repair, build, and maintain their properties. Our role was to help identify, document, and communicate these stories, turning isolated examples of good practice into an organisation-wide conversation about sustainable timber use.

DELIVERY:

We brought together our forest expertise, storytelling skills, and film production experience to help the National Trust communicate the opportunities of managing and using its own timber resources more effectively:

Research & story development:
We visited sites from Cumbria to Herefordshire, uncovering inspiring examples of circular timber use already happening within the Trust. These ranged from timber used in repair works to outdoor furniture and signage, all sourced and processed locally.

Film production:
To communicate these stories internally, we produced a short documentary, designed to be a “cup of tea” in length, aimed at estate rangers, architects, policy makers, and senior managers. It focused on the people driving these changes, rather than the technicalities of processing timber.

Collaborative filmmaking:
Filming took place over one week, using both our in-house team and specialist collaborators. Our small-crew approach (one filmmaker and one forestry/timber expert) created a relaxed, authentic environment that encouraged open, confident storytelling.

We edited the film for immediate internal distribution, ensuring a cohesive visual style across multiple locations and contributors. The outcome was a concise, compelling film that celebrated the circular use of timber within the National Trust and inspired a wider internal movement to replicate these practices across other properties. By highlighting real people, real woodlands, and real results, we helped translate sustainable forestry values into tangible, relatable action.

COLLABORATORS:

National Trust