Filming on Forestry England Land

Filming in the forest

Whether you are looking to film the next Oscar winning blockbuster, need a backdrop for a television documentary or are creating your own project, our woodlands provide filmmakers with a diverse range of locations to shoot in. 

We offer every type of woodland and forest setting you could need, from wooded valleys and rocky mountains to wide open spaces. Hidden away in the forests are old buildings, bridges, quarries, rock faces, rivers, lakes, ponds and rolling landscapes as well as stunning panoramic vistas. Our filming sites also have ample parking for unit bases, and are within a commutable distance from London. 

Camera crew filming in the forest

Discover our different types of locations and features

Bluebells Hazelborough

Dense Robin Hood-type forests

For those seeking a mixture of broadleaf forests (for example, oak, birch, and ash trees) with lower storey undergrowth, this is ideal scenery. Some locations have a watercourse flowing through them, as well as large trees.

Located on the outskirts of London, Bourne Wood is the perfect location if you are looking for a variety of woodland types including these dense forests. 

woodland landscape

Open Robin Hood-type forests  

These landscapes are typically mature or open broadleaf forest (for example, oak, birch, and ash trees), often consisting of beech trees. They have little or no ground vegetation, allowing for free and open movement through the trees.

With 600 acres of unrivalled outdoor space, Westonbirt is diverse shooting location. It houses formality in the Old Arboretum as well as natural woodland in Silk Wood, you won't be short of filming opportunities! 

Fir trees by stream

North American-type pine forests

These forest types are predominantly coniferous. This means that, on a small scale, they can pass for a North American scene. These landscapes include redwood groves and mature Douglas fir crops.

Film at Thetford Forest for a vibrant and rich pine woodland. 

Open landscape at Bellever Forest

Eastern European-type pine forests

This type of landscape is great for filmmakers who are looking for an Eastern European type of forest. This is due to the dense and mature, or semi-mature, pine or spruce forest.

Forest Landscape at Whinlatter
Photo credit: Steve Blake

Mountainous landscapes

These locations are predominantly set from viewpoints or high level forest roads with views onto or out of the forest. This includes sweeping forests with mountains beyond, or steep conifer hillsides.

Lake in autumnal forest

Water features

These landscapes consist of wooded valleys with open stream sides along with rocky outcrops in the forest, swamps, ponds and lakes, and marshy or boggy areas amongst trees.

deadwood left by forest fire

Devastated forests

These are devastated areas of fire sites, windblow, recently harvested and cleared areas. These locations also include quarries, rocky outcrops, and deeply rutted, muddy rides. They are also useful backdrops for films that require weird, spooky or unnatural looking forest areas, including old yew trees. There are also a number of locations that could be enhanced to pass as a jungle.

Bridge in the forest

Man-made features

There are a variety of man-made structures in our forests, such as:

  • Buildings (including old, derelict buildings in rural locations)
  • Yards
  • Barns
  • Bridges
  • Tunnels
  • Dams
  • Gravel roads
  • Fire towers 

The very best of movie entertainment have used the nations’ forests, including:

The open forest landscape within the New Forest National Park

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

filmed in the New Forest, South England
Glen nevis

Braveheart

filmed at Glen Nevis, Lochaber
Filming of Gladiator, Bourne Wood

Gladiator

filmed at Bourne Wood, SE England
Atmospheric misty forest at Wendover Woods

Highlander: End Game

filmed at Wendover Wood, Chilterns, SE England

Notable television dramas, comedy productions and documentaries filmed in our forests and woodlands include:

  • Black Adder (Millennium Special)
  • Murder Rooms
  • Midsomer Murders
  • Chambers
  • Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)
  • Ultimate Force
  • Redcap
  • Goodbye, Mr Chips
  • Foyles War
  • Bill Oddie Goes Wild
  • Great Battles
  • Robin Hood: Fact or Fiction
  • Human Instinct
  • Darwin
  • Scream Team

A variety of promotional and advertising productions have used the nations’ forests. These include promotions for:

  • Ford
  • Hyundai
  • Suzuki
  • Harrods
  • John Lewis
  • Pimms

Contact us to find out about our filming locations: 

If you're looking to use our woodlands to host a sport, educational event or activity, or for scientific research, you must first apply for a permit. Please see our permissions page: