Medirek covers film, TV and commercial productions at or near Farnham, Surrey, from its base in Alfold, Surrey. Cover is matched to the production's risk, from a single set medic to higher-level clinicians, ambulance cover, RAMS and tech recces, water safety and fire cover.
Farnham is home to Bourne Wood, one of the best-known woodland film locations in the UK, as well as a Georgian town centre and heathland and ponds close by.
Filming in Farnham: locations and permits
Waverley Borough Council lists productions filmed in the borough including Gladiator and three Harry Potter films, Forestry England counts Captain America: The First Avenger, Wonder Woman and Avengers: Age of Ultron among Bourne Wood's credits, and the wood is famous for large exterior builds, battle scenes and action sequences. Around Farnham there are also Farnham Park, Frensham Great Pond and Common, Frensham Little Pond and the ruins of Waverley Abbey. Woodland and heathland shoots bring soft and uneven ground, long distances from unit base to set, weather exposure, and often horses, pyrotechnics or SFX, so medical cover and casualty extraction have to be planned before the first day.
Who gives permission: Bourne Wood is managed by Forestry England, which handles filming there. Waverley Borough Council manages its own sites such as Farnham Park and Frensham Great Pond. Frensham Little Pond is National Trust land and Waverley Abbey is in English Heritage's care, so each gives its own permission. Filming on roads and pavements needs a Surrey County Council licence through the Surrey Film Office.
Sources: Waverley Borough Council: Film Waverley; Forestry England: forests on film; Surrey Film Office (Surrey County Council)
Production safety and RAMS in Farnham
Permit bodies and landowners in Farnham commonly ask for a risk assessment, and some ask for full risk assessments and method statements. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend your tech recce, write production-specific RAMS you can submit with your applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, plus water safety and fire cover teams where the shoot needs them. Because the same team plans the medical cover, the RAMS and the medical plan match.
Hazards we plan for in Farnham
- Soft, uneven woodland and heath ground
- Long carries from unit base to set
- Horses, stunts, pyrotechnics and SFX
- Ponds and open water
Medirek looks at these at the tech recce and builds them into the medical plan, including access for an ambulance and the route to the nearest emergency department.
What Medirek provides in Farnham
Unit and set medics
Staff are DBS checked, uniformed and hold relevant, recognised qualifications, ranging from FREC 3, FREC 4, ECA and RTACC through to HCPC-registered paramedics and nurses, with doctors where the risk calls for it.
Stunt and action cover
Higher-level clinicians for stunts, vehicle action and SFX, planned with your stunt coordinator.
Ambulance cover and conveyance
Arranged where the risk assessment calls for it. Medirek has 4×4-capable response vehicles for remote and off-road locations.
Health and safety, RAMS, tech recce
Production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your Farnham locations, informed by a tech recce.
Water safety
Bankside responders and in-water safety staff in full PPE for non-swift water.
Fire cover
Fire prevention advice and rapid intervention teams for SFX, pyrotechnics and builds.
Insured and clinically governed
Strict clinical governance, overseen by a GMC-registered Medical Director and a clinical team including paramedics and frontline medical staff, for consistent care. Insured with £2m medical malpractice and £10m public liability.
Confidential and responsive
Staff work under production NDAs and confidentiality. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Getting to Farnham
The typical route from Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, is via the A281 and A31. Unit base, call times and rendezvous points are agreed when cover is booked. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cover a battle or stunt sequence in Bourne Wood?
Yes. Medirek can provide higher-level clinicians for stunt and action days, planned with the stunt coordinator, plus fire cover for pyrotechnics and SFX.
How would a casualty be brought out of the woods?
Medirek agrees access routes and rendezvous points with the location team during the recce, so a casualty can be moved from set to an ambulance by an agreed route.
Who do we ask about filming in Bourne Wood?
Bourne Wood is managed by Forestry England. Waverley Borough Council handles its own sites, and Surrey County Council licenses filming on the highway.
Can you provide water safety at Frensham?
Yes. Medirek provides water safety for non-swift water, such as ponds and lakes, including bankside responders and in-water safety staff.
Can you provide a production safety advisor for a shoot in Farnham?
Yes. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend the tech recce in Farnham, write production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your permit applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, water safety and fire cover, alongside or separate from medical cover.
More filming locations nearby
Further reading: The most filmed towns and counties in the South and South East