BBC Countryfile Filming Day

Mallard Flyfishers were delighted to learn in May 2018 that Mallard lake had been chosen from several locations around the country to launch the BBC's Countryfile photographic competition which leads onto the Countryfile Calendar for 2019, the proceeds of which are donated to Children in Need. It was especially pleasing as Countryfile celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2018.

Arrangements were put in place for the BBC to film Mallard lake on the 23rd May, attended by 4 members of the Fishery committee, Rod Cheese (Fishery Manager),Dave Thain (Chairman),Paul Maslin (Angling Coach) and Jerry Falkingham (Membership Secretary). The BBC were very keen to make use of our boats at the Fishery to get some close up shots of the lake, as well as using their drone for some aerial shots.

The theme for the competition was 'Seasons in the Sun'. The three main celebrities involved in the filming were John Craven who is a regular on the BBC Countryfile programme. Also, Simon King & Cerys Matthews were there. Simon is a TV presenter and professional wildlife photographer specialising in nature documentaries. Cerys is a Welsh singer, songwriter, author and broadcaster. She was a founder member of the Welsh rock band 'Catatonia' and currently hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The filming took about 2 1/2 hours, during which time John was interviewing Simon & Cerys on the boat jetty about the competition. The next piece involved Simon & Cerys taking one of our boats onto the lake for the drone to take some aerial shots of them. Upon their return to the boat jetty, the cameraman and soundman boarded another boat with Jerry ably assisting as the boat rower and headed out with Simon & Cerys going out again in their boat for some close up shots to be taken of them around the lake talking about the best type of cameras to use for wildlife photography.

After filming at the lake, the BBC entourage headed off to do some further filming in the wildflower meadows around Clattinger Farm where the Snakeshead Fritillaries proliferate around the end of April each year.

The programme was broadcast by the BBC on Sunday evening, 17th June 2018.