Filming and Photography Opportunities on our Nature Reserves around Gwent

Our nature reserves cover a wide range of habitats from wetlands and wildflower meadows to ancient woodlands and post industrial wildernesses, and all play host to a multitude of magnificent wildlife.

Our reserves have been used as locations by a wide range of media. The nature of requests vary widely and we are usually happy to accommodate them if possible as long as disturbance to wildlife can be kept to a minimum. 

If you're not sure which of our reserves would best suit your requirements, please contact us to tell us more about what you are looking for, and we can advise what might suit you best.

A request to film on a nature reserve or other land managed by our Trust involves a location fee. The fee is based on the scale of work and number of people involved. Each request will be dealt with on an individual basis taking into account the impact of the filming on location and visitors and the perceived benefits to the Trust for participating in the filming. We reserve the right to charge for additional staff time on top of these agreed fees, should the filming operation require significant Trust involvement or overseeing. We reserve the right to refuse filming requests.

Commercial photographers  wishing to use nature reserves for locations for photo shoots - such as our ancient bluebell woods or meadows - should always seek permission - and stick to paths, ensuring bluebells or any other plants are not trampled, wildlife is not disturbed and the Countryside Code is observed.

For the safety and enjoyment of other visitors, and to protect wildlife from disturbance or injury, we do not allow drone flying from or over our site without our permission. And if given permission is given contractors or staff operating the drone must satisfy stringent Civil Aviation Authority criteria, and have specific insurances and have been commissioned or authorised by the Trust, for a specific purpose and in these cases the activity is strictly controlled.

Our reserves are important areas for wildlife and many of them are used for breeding. Therefore these sites are sensitive to disturbance; for instance, birds may feel threatened by drones and abandon their nests.

We often receive requests from film students and from charities about filming on our reserves. We wish to encourage filmmaking under realistic conditions, but we must ensure wildlife will not be disturbed, habitats will not be damaged and our reserves work will not be interrupted. And, depending on the nature of requests, if we do allow permission we may also be able to come to an agreement to waive the location fee for students and charities. However, anyone wishing to film on any of our reserves must seek our permission before doing so. 

Find out more about our 33  nature reserves here. And if you wish to discuss which might best suit your requirements, filming or photography options, and costings with us, please email sharris@gwentwildlife.org or info@gwentwildlife.org or call 01600 740600.