Deep Roots, Dark Earth: Freeminers of the Forest of Dean

For centuries, the freeminers of the Forest of Dean have held a rare and ancient right, to mine coal wherever they find it beneath the forest floor. Forestry England’s new short documentary, Deep Roots, Dark Earth, offers a rare glimpse into this tradition. The film follows Deputy Gaveller Dan Howell and freeminers Mike Howell and Phil Schwarz as they navigate the narrow, timber-lined tunnels of Wallsend Colliery, one of the last traditional mines still in operation.

Mining in the Forest of Dean is more than just a job, it’s a birth right. To become a freeminer, one must be over 21, born within the historic Hundred of St Briavels, and have worked underground for a year and a day. With fewer births in the region and an aging workforce, the tradition faces an uncertain future.

Through evocative storytelling and stunning underground footage, the documentary captures the grit, camaraderie, and unwavering passion that keep these men digging. As Mike puts it, “There’s enough coal here to last 500 years, you just have to find it.”

Deep Roots, Dark Earth was produced by Stuart Sheppard (Director/Editor), Ben Thomas (Director/Cinematographer), and Lawrence Shaw (Lead Historic Environment Advisor) as part of the wider Forestry England, Rooted in History: Telling Our Historic Environment program.