An article on the BBC news site reported that filming for Star Wars Episode VII has started on the island of Skellig Michael in County Kerry. A couple of weeks ago there was also reports that filming for the new film was being shot at Puzzle Wood in the forest of Dean. Its good to see that JJ Abrams has gone back to the old school way of filming in real locations instead of just filming on green screen. While special effects nowadays look real you cant beat actual real locations. I have been to puzzle wood when I was a teenager and its an amazing place and you can see why JRR Tolkien got his inspiration for the forests of Middle Earth.
Puzzle wood is found in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, UK. There is a mile of track that takes you through amazing forest and rock formations and natural caves. Puzzle wood was created by erosion of the natural underground cave system which was then uplifted and exposed to the surface. It was mined by Iron Age settlers and then the Romans. In the early 1800’s the land owner open a mile of track opening the forest to his friends and family and it was not till the 1900’s that the forest was open up to the public. In 1848 a group of workmen removed a block of stone and they found a small cavity and hidden there was three earthenware pots containing 3,000 Roman coins. The forest is home to a number of tree’s , plants and wild life. You will find Oak, Beech, Ash, Lime and Yew trees there as well as Soft shield fern, Harts tongue fern, Bluebells (late spring) and wild garlic. If you are lucky you might catch site of badgers and foxes and there are plenty of different wild birds. Also Puzzle wood is home to the endangered Greater Horse shoe bat.
Skellig Michael in the larger of two islands off County Kerry in Ireland. The island was probably first inhabited around the 6th century and the monastery was supposed to be founded by Saint Fionan. There are six beehive cells, two oratories, a medieval church and a number of stone cross’s and slabs. The monks that lived there (around 12 plus the Abbot) lived on a diet of local caught fish, meat and eggs from the local birds and they grew their own vegetables. They also created a very clever system for collecting and purifying rain water which was then collected in cisterns. The monastery was occupied all the way until the 12th/13th century. In 1826 two light houses were built on the island and the island gained world heritage listing in 1996. Tour operators run 13 boats to the island each day, weather permitting!
Like i said you cant beat the real thing! Also filming at real locations brings money and jobs to these places which means these places can carry on for year and years too come!!!!!
If you ever get the chance visit these wonderful places. May the Force Be With You!
Library Jedi 