And so “Reel Nature” Film clubs come to a close for this academic year! In this final session, we screened the truly inspiring One Last Farm. A short film made by the UWE MA Wildlife Filmmaking alumni, Nikki Dodd. And what a phenomenal turnout we had! The beautiful film, Nikki’s fascinating contribution to our Q&A and our group discussion really got us thinking and left us all a little bit more motivated to connect with our local nature spots. And encouraged some of us to take that next step engage in climate action, because just as the film shows, change is possible! However challenging!
One Last Farm
One Last Farm tells the story of the last working farm in Bristol, Yew Tree Farm, and the difficulties it continues to face to survive. The small family farm in south Bristol is a haven for biodiversity with its SNCI (Site of Nature Conservation Interest) status. It is also a big part of the local community, providing organic food and wellbeing support for so many locals.
Director and Cinematographer, Nikki Dodd, captures the tale of Catherine Withers, the third-generation farmer as she battles growing pressures from Bristol’s shifting land demands as the urban population grows. Drama, determination and resilience, this short (under 20 min film) takes audiences on a journey. One of fear and hope, as we watch Catherine fight against council plans for a cemetery expansion.
You can find more about the film, watch the trailer and find a screening near you on the film’s website here.
Audience’s reaction
Despite the film’s short length, it was clear from the discussions that the audience’s were captivated and deeply moved by the messages the film contained. And by Catherine’s bravery and resilience.
As a farm that is farmed in a very different way, one that protects and encourages biodiversity alongside the organic practices, Yew Tree Farm is rare. It is also at the heart of many intersecting issues. Audiences pressed Nikki for more information about this, as with so many potential topics to highlight in the film, how and why did she decide to focus in on biodiversity?
Nikki answered by sharing that to her, at that moment of time, with the proposed cemetery expansion that was putting some of the land at risk, protecting the farm’s biodiversity and highlighting Catherine’s love and deep connection with the land was the most personal and true story that the film could tell.
Valuing nature
Many other issues arose in our discussions such as the issue of land ownership and how to measure the value of the farmland with its abundant biodiversity. How can we prove the invaluable nature of the farm and its long term contributions to the surrounding ecosystem’s health and human wellbeing. Audiences questioned whether we could collect more data and carry out more ecosystem surveys to prove the lands worth in terms that weren’t monetary. Others asked, whether data would ever be enough for people to give the land and its thriving ecosystems a high “enough” monetary value not to destroy it through development initiatives.
The film highlighted a conflict between humans and nature that is deeply embedded in our culture. A story that pins humans against nature and above the value of these natural spaces. This type of thinking revolves around economic decision making and focuses exclusively on short term gains. We couldn’t come up with an answer to this massive dilemma in our short session, but it got us all thinking. It encouraged a need within many of us to develop our own relationships with the natural world, to help us feel just how important it was in our lives and the need to prioritise nature in our own decisions.
The audience loved how the film captured the slow pace of the natural world and a sense of season’s changing. Watching the delicate shots of complex ecosystems and insect close ups, highlighted Catherine’s own connection to nature and how it enriched her life. Audiences shared how they gained a real sense of stewardship and felt close to the farm and its many wonders after taking part in Catherine’s personal journey. This nurtured a curiosity and appreciation for Catherine’s ongoing fight and clear determination on her mission to protect and keep the farm going.
It left many of us wanting to find our own ways of nurturing that connection with our own local green or blue spaces. We too are wanting to notice the seasons change and the beauty in the life that surrounds us, even here in urban Bristol.
The power of art and hope
Art is powerful. A tool that helps us to empathise across great distances, across species divides and motivate a sense of awe and desire to care for others. The audience recognised this within themselves after watching the film’s scenic and spectacular shots. What this also facilitated for us, was a sense of awe for Catherine’s clear dedication and resilience.
As even after everything she has been through, she admits:
“I am not broken quite yet.” Catherine Withers
The powerful effect of the film became evident when Nikki shared that the film was sent to the councillors featured in the film to help them understand just how valuable the farm was. This had an impact on their way of thinking and consequently, on their political decisions. It resulted in their agreement to protect the farm for that little bit longer.
However, many audience members shared their own frustrations in not knowing how they could make a change. Or how they could act on the hope that the film instilled in them. Transferring that hope into action is tough. But seeing Catherine’s power as one individual really did show us that we too, as individuals, can make a powerful change. And together, as a whole film club audience, we hold great potential.
These problems are not unique to Yew Tree Farm. This film portrays the struggles of just one of many farms and natural landscapes across the UK, that are all threatened by land development. What this film successfully does, is raise awareness of an incredibly important problem. One that is underlined by societies’ constant need to expand and grow, a rather unsustainable short term goal.
So, I leave you with some of the audiences final questions:
How do we decide what has the right to exist?
How do we act as a group, as a part of a much wider collective, to protect and value that right?
How can we nurture our own sense of connection to nature and to other humans, so we can act on this inspirational film and participate in making meaningful change?
A big thank you
As the last film club for a while, I want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU to all of my phenomenal supporters, audiences and cheer leading team who help me to get the word out there! Some of you I will miss terribly as you move on after this year, and I can’t thank you enough for making this club a real joy to run!
A quick mention too, to UWE’s Student Union Experience awards! It was an absolute pleasure to be nominated for the “Sustainability” category. And so very happy to celebrate with all the other nominees (and the phenomenal person who won) and the fantastic work that everyone is doing at UWE. Lets keep making UWE a bit more green step by step.
Until next (academic) year….
Want to watch One Last Farm or set up your own screening? Easy! Take a look at the website and get in touch with Nikki here.
Are you looking for a film club near you? Here are some recommendations:
Jelena Krivosic 