Originally from Hertfordshire, Tilly married a Keeper from Cairngorm and has lived in the area since the early 80s. They run a famous reindeer herd and visitor attraction near Aviemore, and 30 miles further East a farm with rare breed pigs, sheep and wild boar. She is cynical about the purpose of the National Park – she feels it’s simply another level of bureaucracy, and she can’t identify many changes it’s produced.

Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone

The farmer's tale - Tilly Smith

What does the idea of a ‘Cairngorms National Park’ mean to the people who live and work there? In these films we contrast six private lives lived out in a National Park. From park ranger to farmer, shop owner to school student and a young mum to a service station proprietor we explore how living in a national park affects their lives. We learn of the conflicts between preserving the wild beauty of the park – which is home to 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species – and providing new homes for its growing population.

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Public Park, Private Lives - for iPod/iPhone