Goodbyes are hard, says the National Trust

The National Trust’s new campaign looks through the eyes of one woman as she reflects on her lifetime of departures from the cherished National Trust places that have always been there for her.

Called An Ode to Leaving,  the 60-second spot features intimate, tender, nostalgic and often humorous moments, as our protagonist narrates a series of memories that tease out a deep emotional bond with the landscapes she visits and the people she has shared them with, lingering on the bittersweet moment when every visit must come to an end.

Created by Don’t Panic London and directed by Simon Ratigan through Rogue Films, the spot was shot across stunning sites including Lyme Park, Bodnant Garden, Penrhyn Castle and Porthdinllaen. The film was created by the crew from a selection of pre-conceived as well as genuinely spontaneous, candid moments, all shot as if observed and half-remembered by our hero.

“An Ode to Leaving is a celebration of the deep connection so many people have with these treasured places," said George McCallum, acting ECD at Don’t Panic. "[It invites] audiences to reflect on what their favourite National Trust spaces and places mean to them, and the people they have shared them with, before inviting them to leave a legacy so that they can continue to be protected for generations to come.” 

“It was a wonderful opportunity to work with Don’t Panic and National Trust and a thrill to capture so many stunning properties and landscapes," added Ratigan. "It feels like we spent a year travelling the lengths of the country.”