The Major
(1963)
The first BBC Natural History Unit production to be filmed in colour, The Major is a deeply moving account of an old English oak sadly destined to be felled. Central to village life, the Major acts as a meeting place and town notice board, and these images of local life are interwoven with intricate footage of the myriad wildlife that make this 'king of trees' their home.
Enlisting the talents of renowned wildlife filmmakers Eric Ashby and Leslie Jackman, this thirty five minute BBC film uses impressive photography to detail the vast range of birds, mammals and insects dependent on this colossal structure. Towering over the surrounding countryside, wood ants march along the oak's thick bark, as ladybirds feed on honeydew, and jays pluck its autumn acorns.
An emotive account of this strong, magnificent tree that has always had a special place in the English psyche, The Major was a brainchild of award-winning producer, and co-founder of the BBC Natural History Unit, Chris Parsons. Although initially broadcast in monochrome, Parsons saw the future potential of colour, and when the medium finally arrived in 1967, The Major became one of the unit's most repeated shows.
Eric Ashby
