BBC documentary 'Growing Up Green' features trio of young people raised at Findhorn Ecovillage community
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A BBC documentary exploring what it's like to be raised at Moray's Findhorn Ecovillage will air next week to coincide with COP26.
The film, "Growing Up Green", is told from the perspective of three young people – Amaya Rodriguez McGregor, Chloe Watson and Jake Jay-Lewin – who grew up in the community.
It explores how the ideals of the ecological and spiritual community has influenced their opinions and lifestyle choices as adults.
The film, by award-winning Scottish film-maker Maria Craig, offers perspectives on the climate crisis through the eyes of a generation raised in families where environmentalism is a way of life.
The Findhorn Foundation and community has long been a place of inspiration for the film-maker, who has made regular visits there since joining an experience week in 1983.
Maria recalls the moment when the seed for her new film was planted. She said: "I was in the Community Centre at the Findhorn Foundation. It was 1997 and I was in the middle of a three-month programme called 'The Essence of Arts'.
"Someone asked me what I would really like to do with my life. I answered without thinking, 'Make a film'. 'Well then, why don’t you?' was the response."
Before studying film at Edinburgh Napier University, Maria had experimented with film-making and produced "The Story So Far", a feature documentary celebrating 50 years of The Findhorn Foundation.
The executive producer of Growing Up Green is Forres man Neil Webster, from Happy Tramp North, who produces BBC Two thriller and mystery series Guilt.
Growing Up Green will be shown on BBC Scotland, on Monday, November 1, at 11pm.
Meanwhile, the film-maker, along with cast and crew members, will be in attendance at a live premiere of Growing Up Green at Findhorn's Universal Hall on Saturday, November 6, at 7pm.
The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions about the film.
The evening, a Maria Craig Mini Film Festival, will screen three of Maria’s short films and include red-carpet interviews with Maria and Neil.
Tickets for the event are by donation. All funds raised will go towards the rebuilding of the Community Centre and Sanctuary in The Park, which were destroyed in a fire earlier this year.
There are only 290 tickets available. For tickets visit www.findhorn.org/events. The event will also be streamed online for anyone unable to attend in person. The link can be obtained at the same web address.
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be held in Glasgow from Sunday, October 31 to Friday, November 12.
