Ask the Locals: Robin Smith, Cinematographer

Visit Monmouthshire talks to wildlife Cinematographer Robin Smith about his love of the natural world, his film work and living in Monmouthshire. 

[Sir David Attenborough and Cameraman Robin Smith TV in Wye Valley]

Please introduce yourself

My name is Robin Smith I am a cinematographer who has worked for 30 years now, filming natural history,  documentaries & feature films. 

I moved from Bristol to the Lower Wye Valley outside of Monmouth. Where we live in Monmouthshire is close to the River Wye, but is also easy to get out into places like the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons. We are also close to amazing woodlands; it really is a dream location.

Tell us about the BBC TV series you have filmed?

I have been filming for a BBC One series (by Plimsoll Productions) called ‘Secret Garden’. I was asked to film the Wye Valley episode, which is really handy because that's where I live! They used our garden to film in, which is not too far from Monmouth in the Lower Wye Valley, and we filmed all the wildlife and the things that went on in the woodland around our property and within our garden. 

We were really lucky as Sir David Attenborough agreed to narrate it and became involved with the series. And then we've been able to be part of his 100th birthday celebration. So that's been a real privilege.

[Lower Wye Valley Landscape taken from BBC Secret Garden - Wye Valley programme]

Did Sir David Attenborough come to Monmmouthshire ?

Yes,  probably one of my most memorable experiences of filming in Monmouthshire was when we were able to get Sir David Attenborough here for a few days. He filmed with us for another series that we were working on called Secret World of Sound with David Attenborough.  I was working on a sequence with Dippers (birds) in the brook, and we set up this shot with a remote camera on one side of the brook, the dippers were feeding in the middle of the brook, and then Sir David was on the opposite side. He did his amazing, piece to camera with the Dipper right in front of him, that was really, really lovely. 

We also got to film with Sir David in the bluebell wood called Colonel’s Park Wood, near The Narth. It is a  beautiful bluebell wood and he talked to the camera with birdsong in the woods around him, it was just fantastic. 

He has been such a driving force for so many people in the natural world and, you know, you just can't help but be awe inspired by him.

What makes Monmouthshire so great for your work?

We're really lucky in Monmouthshire as a county because we've got so many great wildlife experts. I mean, there are people that live in our county that regularly contribute to things like BBC Springwatch. We've got experts like Dr. Steph Tyler who is a dipper expert,  she's also incredibly knowledgeable about meadows and grasslands and woodland ecology. So I'm really fortunate living here that when I'm filming, I can draw on the expertise of all of these experts that live within Monmouthshire as a county.

What are your favourite things to do in Monmouthshire?

In my downtime with the family you can't beat a canoe trip down the River Wye,  that's super special.  Autumn time is the best with the leaves on the trees changing colour, and a trip to The Boat Inn Penallt, a pub that sits on the side of the river!  I also love fly fishing for brown trout on the River Usk or the Monnow.

Best places to go for food and drink in Monmouthshire?

My family and I love going to 'The Pig and Apple’ at Humble by Nature. The Pig and Apple are the best burgers you'll get, not just in Monmouthshire, but I reckon anywhere in the country. They're outstanding. And then next to that, you've got Silver Circle Distillery, which is amazing, locally produced gin, cocktails, locally sourced ales. You can have stone baked pizza there on a Friday night and sit outside, it doesn't get any better. 

A shout out for Kingstone Brewery in Tintern, their beer is really great beer. Plus Branch and Vine next door, they specialise in organic and biodynamic drinks and do tastings and supper clubs.

Thank you to Robin for chatting with us, you can see more of his work on his website > https://robinsmith.tv/

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Notes:

Watch on BBC iPlayer: Secret Garden - Wye Valley

Colonel’s Park Wood is managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Our Local Gwent Wildlife Trust is a great resource for reserves and wildlife information they also run workshops and volunteer days!