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Extraordinary Spring

The magic of a European spring is so dramatic to someone living in Australia. Life spurts with such energy, transforming bleak landscapes into rich environments, and so rapidly. Spring was particularly dramatic in 2018 after ‘The Beast from the East’.
The film hopes to rekindle appreciation of woodland. Eden was full of trees and the ‘wildwood’ covered this island five thousand years ago. Little native woodland has survived, about 2% of Britain, less in England. And of these woods very few are natural, as in untouched.

  • John Bennett
    Director
  • John Bennett
    Writer
  • John Laidler
    Editor
  • John Laidler
    Sound and Music
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    environment, nature
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 28 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 1, 2018
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - John Bennett

I am a poet, published worldwide, who has won major poetry prizes. I also write essays on environmental issues and my PhD explored ecopoetics. I have become a visual artist, but one with text embedded in most of my work.
I give talks at Coffs Harbour Regional Art Gallery where I exhibited a multi-media presentation ‘First Light - from Eos to Helios’, Coffs Harbour Regional Galley, from July, 2017. A documentary on this project, ‘Poetry at first light’ was broadcast by ABC Radio National’s Earshot, February, 2016.
Other screenings/exhibitions include: Biligan (commissioned), Bellingen TurtleFest, 2016; the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Blackheath, Oct 2013; Matilda St Gallery, Macksville, Sept 2012; Balmain Watch House, Syndey, Oct 2011; Sydney Writers Festival, 2010; Newtown Underground Film Festival, Sydney, 2010; a multi-media installation, MacLeay Museum, University of Sydney, 2007.
Videos have also been published in the special 30th anniversary edition of Going Down Swinging; ekleksographia (USA); Poetry Australia and online.
My images are used by The Dept. of Primary Industries, News South Wales, National Parks and Wildlife Service, local councils, tourist authorities, festivals and schools.
I have been Artistic Director of the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival for five years, I am currently providing texts, photographs and videos for artists, and teaching schoolchildren, for the national ‘Overwintering’ project (migratory shorebirds), Coffs Regional Gallery.

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Director Statement

I live in New South Wales by the sea in a beautiful sub-tropical region of rivers and forests, the ocean and sky are blue but we have no spring. Uncle Gary Williams, a Gumbaynggirr elder tells me there are two seasons – galaagarr – warm weather and maguurr – cold weather.
Spring is the time to illustrate nature’s wonders in Britain. I grew up in England and appreciate the beauty and drama of a Northern hemisphere spring. Environmental educator Mitchell Thomashow suggests that attention to our immediate environment is best way to learn to appreciate the biosphere and become aware of our environmental crisis. If we get to know nature better, we will come to appreciate, even love it.