Writing a Treatment • Pre-Production

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Alongside making the powerpoint for our pitch, we also wrote a treatment. This helped us in making sure that we had a solid idea that we had done all the research needed. It helped us plan what kind of documentary we wanted ours to be and the different information we wanted to include in it. 

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Nurturing Nature – Treatment

The title of this documentary is Nurturing Nature. It is set in Broadditch Farm in Southfleet, Kent. 500 acres of rambling arable farmland in close proximity to urban towns such as Gravesend and Istead Rise.

Our documentary will show the main character explaining his situation and predicaments with us and a voice over or commentary to help put across his passion for wildlife protection.

John Harris is a 6th generation farmer, who takes great pride in his farm which is a family run business alongside his brother Mark. The farm has been in their family for 6 generations, (125 years) his father Wilfred and uncle Frank (5th generation), are both now in their 80s and are still actively involved in smaller tasks around the farm.

The main priority for the countryside stewardship scheme is to protect and enhance the natural environment, in particular, the diversity of wildlife (biodiversity) and water quality. Other outcomes include:
·      Flood management
·      The historic environment
·      Landscape character
·      Genetic conservation
·      Educational access

It is jointly run by Natural England, Forestry Commission England and the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) on behalf of Defra.

The predicament he is facing is whether he should stay in the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which does give him some funding for the farm, or leave.

John’s main drive is to not only protect the wildlife on the farm and in the surrounding area but to educate young children in where their produce comes from and how a farm is kept and run.

John is facing the decision of whether he should stay within the Countryside Stewardship Scheme even though there are many constraints within it. There are rules and regulations he has to abide by, this can result in the farm being fined if they are found to not meet the guidelines during regular inspections. He has to consider the costs, as the funding provided does not always cover the price of the work needed to keep up with the conditions of the scheme. Broadditch farm is surrounded by an ever-increasing suburbia so John is also coping with people trespassing with motorised vehicles in the areas and disturbing the environment he is trying hard to protect and preserve.

Conserving wildlife is one of his priorities, however he is being strangled by the schemes red tape. The rules and regulations allow human intervention which is having a detrimental effect on the work he is doing to protect the wildlife. The film will concentrate on the pros and cons of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

We have been led to believe that John will leave the scheme in September because of the difficulty he is having, however he is planning to continue with the education side and wildlife protection without the funding and constraints.

The camera work and editing will give us a clear picture of the location and its natural beauty which will be 100% tripod based to give a grander feeling. The camera will capture wildlife in its own habitat, incorporating the naturalistic sounds of the Kent countryside. Using depth of field shots will show the vastness of the farmland in which he is trying to protect. It will follow John’s emotional and passionate plight to educate and protect.

When one is trying to nurture nature, frustrations of bureaucracy may out weigh the passion to protect. Whist the government are trying to implement incentives to protect wildlife and nature, they seem unaware of the effects it is having on our farmers.

Like John, we are very passionate about protecting wildlife and nature in a safe environment, allowing them to thrive in their natural habitat, undisturbed. We would like to show the pros and cons of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme with relation to the farmers who are trying to implement it. We feel the effects should be understood.

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