One of my favourite projects last year was working on two short films for Cambridge Filmworks the films are about Bio Diversity at the Universty of Cambridge. We Interviewed the Head Gardener of Cambridge University Steve Goghill.

The ‘Wild Flower Meadow’ was in full bloom, in front of Kings College’s iconic Chapel. The filming took place in July and coming after lockdown it was good to be out and about again.

Beautiful Poppies in full bloom

The Widflower Meadow

Thanks to the forward thinking of the Garden Committee, King’s College allowed wild flowers to bloom on one of its famous lawns. Harebells, buttercups, poppies and cornflowers were now blooming in front of the college’s historic chapel.

Steve Coghill said: “The thing about gardening in the 21st century is that you need to be able to justify what you are doing. Grass monocultures have their place in horticulture but biodiversity does too. And in a time of climate change and fear of loss of species it is becoming more important.

The University of Cambridge college, which dates back to 1441 had mown the lawn since the 1720s, had also taken down the ‘Keep off the grass’ signs.

Me filmimg in front of the Chapel

It was hoped that the project would attract a variety of new insects with temporary paths also constructed to allow visitors to get a close-up view of the array of beautiful bright wildflowers when blooming in the Spring sunshine. The wildflowers were harvested for hay once they had finished flowering, and the mown lawns were returned to their fomer glory. But the wild flowers will return next spring.

Bio Diversity

My second project was a more general look at how Steve Coghill and his team were using differenet methods. Using Bio Diversity featuring all the various gardens and allotments around the College.With contributions fromProfessor Michael Proctor Provist of Kings College and Dr Cicely Marshall. Please watch and enjoy these films. Shot on a Sony FS7, they were a real pleasure to be involved with.

Dr Cicely Marshall explaining the delights of the Wildflower Meadow