Charlotte Church lends her voice to new Elan Valley film showcasing Wales’ Celtic rainforest
Charlotte Church lends her voice to new Elan Valley film showcasing Wales’ Celtic rainforest
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While singer and television personality Charlotte Church is currently captivating audiences on The Celebrity Traitors, her voice will soon be heard in a very different setting as narrator of a stunning new short film celebrating the Elan Valley and its breathtaking natural heritage.
Filmed over the course of a year to capture the changing seasons, the 15-minute production explores the Elan Valley’s rich history, its remarkable dam system, and the rare and ancient habitats of the Celtic Rainforest.
The film will premiere at a private launch event on Friday, 24 October, before being screened for the public from 10.30am onwards at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, where it will then play daily as part of the permanent exhibition.
Produced through the Elan Valley Celtic Rainforest Expansion Project, the film was created with support from The Woodland Investment Grant (TWIG) scheme and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, in partnership with the Welsh Government, RSPB Cymru, Natural Resources Wales, and the Radnorshire Wildlife Trust. The initiative is led by Welsh Water, which manages the Elan Valley Estate.
Jen Newman, Estates Manager at Welsh Water and project lead for TWIG, said the team wanted to create something that encapsulated the valley’s unique character and importance.
“We wanted to create something that captures the spirit of the Elan Valley, its natural beauty, history, wildlife, and the incredible experiences it offers. This film is a warm welcome to all our visitors and a reminder of why this landscape, and our Celtic Rainforests are so special.
Charlotte’s narration gives richness to the breath-taking scenery and heritage of the landscape, adding exceptional depth to the film. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved, and we’re really looking forward to sharing the film with visitors.”
Newman said Church was the ideal choice to narrate the film due to her close ties to the area, her wellness retreat, The Dreaming, sits on the border of the Elan Valley Estate and her longstanding passion for nature and sustainability.
The film was produced by Bexmedia, a Gloucester-based video production company known for its creative storytelling and technical precision. Filming began in July 2024 to capture the lush summer landscape and continued through autumn, showcasing the valley’s vibrant seasonal transformation.
The finished film highlights the wildlife diversity that thrives across the Elan Valley’s 70 square miles, from rare birds and insects to native flora, and tells the story of how the Victorian-era dams transformed the region into one of Wales’s most iconic natural landmarks.
As part of the wider Celtic Rainforest Expansion Project, a new forest bathing walking trail has been developed within the Elan Valley Estate. The route is designed to immerse visitors in the tranquil surroundings of the rainforest and promote the wellbeing benefits of connecting with nature.
Along the trail, informative interpretation panels, due to be installed in the spring, will share insights into the rare ecosystems and species found in these woodlands, which are home to endangered birds, butterflies and insects.
The panels will also raise awareness of the threats facing Celtic Rainforests, which, despite their beauty and biodiversity, are thought to be under greater threat than tropical rainforests.
A dedicated leaflet will accompany the trail when it opens to the public in the spring, encouraging visitors to explore the site responsibly and gain a deeper appreciation of the valley’s environmental significance.
The Elan Valley Celtic Rainforest Expansion Project is part of a growing movement across Wales to restore and protect native woodland habitats.
The Elan Valley, often called the “Welsh Lake District”, attracts thousands of visitors each year, and Welsh Water hopes the film will inspire both residents and tourists to connect more deeply with the landscape.
By combining education, conservation and storytelling, the project aims to highlight the importance of these ancient ecosystems while supporting sustainable tourism in rural Mid Wales.
The new film, enriched by Charlotte Church’s narration, offers a fresh lens on one of Wales’s most cherished natural landscapes, blending local history, environmental awareness and the unmistakable voice of one of the nation’s most recognisable talents.
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