Filming in the country parks
Buckinghamshire Council’s Country Parks have been used as a setting for film and television productions for many years. From Hammer Horrors and Carry On films, through to James Bond and Harry Potter. Tiff, our filming officer, talks about filming in the country parks.
Buckinghamshire Council’s Country Parks have been used as a setting for film and television productions for many years. From Hammer Horrors and Carry On films, through to James Bond and Harry Potter. Tiff, our filming officer, talks about filming in the country parks.
Hi Tiff, tell us about your role …
'I am a Filming Officer within the Buckinghamshire Council Country Parks team, based in Black Park Country Park. In my role, I focus on managing the film and television productions within the country parks. My main responsibilities include the licencing of productions and managing the impact of filming, such as restoring the landscape after filming has been completed.'
Why are the country parks such a popular filming location?
Our most popular filming location is Black Park Country Park. The country park is stunning – with mature stands of pine, a wide-open grass area, and a beautiful tree-lined lake. These are surrounded by accessible tracks which make it easy for film units to transport all their equipment, cast and crew to their location.
Next to Black Park’s main open space is a large open area of gravel surrounded by trees. This has been used by film productions to create magical outdoor sets such as Snow White and The Huntsman, The Aztec pyramid in Eternals. It has also been the location for Hagrid’s Hut in Harry Potter, an Ugandan encampment in Casino Royale and a ski chalet in film Knuckles.
What is it like working with the film industry? …
I work with directors and designers to help bring their creative ideas to life. I am proud of the customer service I provide to every production, from film school students to the world’s leading producers and directors. Film crews who use our country parks know that I will provide a gold-standard, bespoke service to help them create their individual cinematic vision.