Bourne Wood


Bourne Wood is an area of predominantly coniferous woodland just south of Farnham, Surrey, England and a film location, under 10 minutes from the famous film location of Hankley Common in Elstead. Locally it was known as the Clumps, and was called this until the forestry commission changed the name in the 1950s when fire breaks were introduced, Charles Darwin may have written about the area in Appendices of Natural Selection-describing the trees in clumps. A promontory above a large heathland clearing provides views over the surrounding woodland. Much of the wood was formerly heathland at the western end of the Greensand Ridge that was developed privately during the 20th century as commercial conifer plantations. This part of the wood has been purchased by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and is being restored mainly to heath, with retention of some woodland of wildlife significance, as Farnham Heath nature reserve. Their aim is to benefit scarce heathland species such as nightjar, woodlark, Dartford warbler and tree pipit as well as species such as sand lizard.

Filming

Since 1999, part of Bourne Wood has been frequently used as a location for filming movies, television series and music videos, most notably the opening battle scenes of the film Gladiator which helped the location to gain popularity. In addition, television adverts for products such as Marmite and IKEA have been filmed at the woods.
In September 2012 the Forestry Commission announced plans to allow filming to take place in the Bourne Wood for up to eight months a year, noting that the site was a "nationally strategic film industry resource". In October 2013 Waverley Borough Council planning committee granted permission for filming to be allowed at Bourne Wood for up to six months in one year or eight months over two years, with night filming for no more than seven days a year. Use of helicopters during filming will require additional permission from the council. Temporary structures may not exceed 25 m in height. The decision will be reviewed after five years.
In chronological order, the following productions have included scenes filmed in the Bourne Wood. All films are feature films unless otherwise stated.
PictureTitleReleaseSet construction
and filming		Notes
It Ain't Half Hot Mum1974–1981British sitcom. Jungle scenes were filmed at the Bourne Wood.
Gladiator2000January – February 1999The opening battle scenes in the forests of Germania were shot here.
The Man Who Cried2000
Band of Brothers2001Miniseries
Storm2001Short film
The Scientist2002Music video
Gladiatress2004
Foyle's War series 4: Bad Blood2006April – May 2005Detective drama television series
Children of Men2006
The Golden Compass2007
Inkheart2008
We Call Her Daisy2008Short film
The Descent Part 22009
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince2009
Burke & Hare2010March 2010
Robin Hood2010May – August 2009Setting for the siege of Chalus Castle at the start of the film.
The Wolfman2010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 12010
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 22011
'2011
War Horse2011
'2011
Dark Shadows2012June – July 2011
Jack the Giant Slayer2013January – March 2011
Snow White and the Huntsman2012August – September 2011Setting for the battle between King Magnus and an army of demonic glass soldiers near the beginning of the film.
'2013August – September 2012Setting for the battle on Vanaheim near the beginning of the film.
'2015June – July 2014The opening car chase scene was shot here, including parts of the assault on the Hydra base.
2016October 2016Parts of the Merlin and Dragonstorm battle scene were shot here.
Wonder Woman2017August 2016
The Old GuardJuly – August 2019

Wartime

During the Second World War a searchlight post was established in the woodland, the concrete base of which is marked and still visible today. Three structures were erected by Canadian soldiers in the northernmost section of the woods bordering Dene Lane, consisting of a mess hut and barracks for those manning the searchlight. Two of these buildings became separate dwellings owned by the Forestry Commission providing accommodation for employees before becoming private houses.

Other

Much of the wood was formerly heathland at the western end of the Greensand Ridge that was developed privately during the 20th century as commercial conifer plantations.
The headwaters of the Wey converging on the town to the north are locally known also as The Bourne, which accordingly has helped to name Lower Bourne, a ward and neighbourhood of Farnham.
Two round tumuli are east and south-east of Forest Cottage in the wood. They are late Bronze Age, 21m and 26m in diameter and 1.7m and 2m high and one has suffered some disturbance in the centre and the south-eastern quadrant. Surrounding the mound is a ditch from which material was quarried during the construction of the monument. This is no longer visible at ground level, having become infilled over the years, and can be seen in a geophysical survey as a buried feature about 3m wide.