ONE LAST FARM
The last traditional working farm in Bristol is under threat from development.
For third-generation farmer Catherine Withers, Yew Tree Farm means everything. It is her home, her livelihood, and a haven for wildlife. But the urban population of Bristol is growing, and the threat of development looms ever closer. Catherine’s wildlife-friendly farming practices are enough to protect the wildlife on her farm, but what will it take to protect the farm itself?
DIRECTOR: Nikki Dodd
EDITOR: Meghan McDonough
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Nikki Dodd
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Duncan McQueen
GRAPHICS: Tatiana McCabe
I directed and shot this short documentary for my thesis film as part of the MA Wildlife Filmmaking course at UWE Bristol. I used a variety of techniques to highlight the beauty of the farm’s ecosystem: drone shots over rich grassland, gimbal movement through ancient hedgerows, wide-angle macro closeups of pollinator insects, long lens shots of birds fledging, and camera trap footage of elusive badgers. This cinematic treatment of the wildlife on the farm was paired with a character-led, observational doc style when filming with Catherine. I followed Catherine and her fight to save the farm over the course of a year.