A Simple Act

About the Film

What happens when people decide to think not in years, but in generations?

A Simple Act follows a year in the life of the restoration of Hardknott Forest, high in the Duddon Valley in the Lake District.

Once planted as a commercial conifer forest, Hardknott is now being transformed into native woodland through the combined efforts of volunteers, researchers from the University of Leeds, Forestry England and the local community.

Across the changing seasons, the film captures both the challenges and the quiet successes of a project whose true results may not be seen for decades.

But this is about far more than trees.

It is a story of optimism, resilience and the extraordinary things that can happen when people come together with a shared purpose.

A Story About People

Some volunteers spend their days planting young trees.

Others clear invasive, non-native species to give native woodland the space to return.

Researchers monitor the landscape, learning what works and adapting their approach as the forest begins to change.

Local farmers contribute generations of knowledge about the land they know best.

On their own, these acts may seem small.

Together, they become something extraordinary.

Again and again, the film reveals that restoring a landscape also changes the people involved. Volunteers speak of friendship, purpose and improved wellbeing. Researchers describe the privilege of working on a project whose greatest successes may only be enjoyed by future generations.

In a world increasingly focused on immediate results, A Simple Act celebrates the quiet power of investing time and effort in a future we may never personally see.

The Restoration

Hardknott Forest covers around 630 hectares in the Duddon Valley, within the Lake District National Park.

Rather than imposing a fixed design, the restoration allows natural processes to take the lead wherever possible.

Native trees reseed themselves.

Volunteers remove invasive species and protect young woodland.

Deadwood is retained to support fungi and insects.

Habitats are created for birds, mammals and countless other species.

Already, the first signs of recovery are beginning to appear.

About the Production

Production began in early 2024, with filming returning to Hardknott throughout the changing seasons as the story unfolded.

The documentary combines observational filmmaking with interviews featuring researchers, Forestry England staff, volunteers, conservationists and local farmers, creating an intimate portrait of a project that will continue long after filming has ended.

Directed by Neil Emery, whose previous documentary Show Up and Start won international awards and screened to sold-out audiences in regional cinemas across the UK, A Simple Act continues his interest in stories of resilience, creativity and the remarkable things ordinary people can achieve together.

Learn More About the Project

A Simple Act tells the human story behind the restoration, but the work at Hardknott Forest continues every day.

If you'd like to learn more about the science, practical conservation, volunteering opportunities and the long-term vision for the project, visit the official Restoring Hardknott Forest website, run by the University of Leeds in partnership with Forestry England. The site includes regular news updates, wildlife stories, research findings and information about how to get involved.