For the scene in which Mrs. Peel is being chased by hounds and takes a fall, Diana Rigg was doubled by Ray Austin, who accidentally fell into a hole and was knocked unconscious for five minutes.
Patrick Macnee specifically asked producer Brian Clemens for a chance to show off his horse riding skills. Diana Rigg however only had the chance to take one riding lesson before production on 'Silent Dust' began.
The story reflects the influential book "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson, published in 1962, the central message of which is that widespread use of pesticides not only kills bugs but will also be deadly for birds.
Patrick Macnee was provided with the horse Laurence Olivier had ridden in the 'Once more unto the breach, dear friends!' scene from Henry V (1944) (aka Henry V). The horse had been a mere two years old during the filming of Henry V, but was still able to perform standing on its hind legs twenty years later.
There are two significant literary references in the script. First, the name "Manderley" is taken from the novel "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. Second, the name of the gamekeeper, Mellors, is taken from DH Lawrence's novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover."