Down on the Farm - Six Short Films about Farmers and Farming in North Devon

A short film commission has produced six five-minute documentaries about farmers and farming within the unique environment of North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The films are a revealing insight into the lives of our farming neighbours and will provoke thought and discussion around our food and where it comes from.

Community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) commissioned these emerging documentary film makers from around the UK to bring their individual film making creativity to the telling of these farmers’ stories.

Amanda McCormack, Creative Director of NDMI says “Since founding North Devon Moving Image six years ago it had always been my intention to make some films about farmers in north Devon. In my mind, it was a project that couldn’t NOT be done. As well as creating, collecting and sharing films it is an important part of our remit to encourage and facilitate new film makers. So, putting the two together, I decided to run North Devon’s first short documentary film commission and (as you will see) it has been an amazing success!”

“Giving the film makers a year in which to make their films has meant that they really got to know their subjects and you will experience the impact of this in the intimate and passionate stories they tell in their Down on the Farm films.

These films are important. They have value in preserving a snapshot of farming today, reflecting and celebrating a very important part of north Devon’s essence. They will do the job of enlightening, inspiring and entertaining those who watch them, connecting people with their farming neighbours and encouraging thought and dialogue around the food we eat.”

 The films are free to watch via the North Devon Moving Image website and thanks to generous funding from local, regional and national organisations, NDMI are able to offer a free screening licence to any groups who would like to show the Down on the Farm films on a big screen.

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 TAP HERE to view 'Down on the Farm' films on the NDMI website

North Devon Moving Image CIC is a community film making organisation delivering arts and heritage projects creating, collecting and sharing short films to inspire, enlighten and entertain.

North Devon Farmers in the Spotlight for Short Film Collection

Thanks to community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image (NDMI), a number of emerging documentary film makers will have the opportunity to create a unique collection of short films about farming in north Devon. 

Each of the seven commissioned films will focus on individual farms within North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which includes the North Devon Coast AONB designation and reaches to parts of Exmoor and Dartmoor.  The selected film makers have sought out engaging characters and fascinating stories from farms around the region including the life of a smallholder, farming with nature on the Hartland Peninsula to how a small local abattoir on the fringes of Exmoor has a positive impact on animal welfare and an inside story on women in farming at Hatherleigh.

“We were very keen to support this project because short films are a brilliant way of telling the story of farming today in these remote rural areas.” commented Jenny Carey-Wood, Manager of the North Devon Coast AONB who have helped to fund Down on the Farm “Our small grants are often used to help people better understand that the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are a living and working landscape, with farms and smallholdings playing a vital role in producing food, managing land for wildlife and as places for people to enjoy the stunning coast and countryside.”

Linda Mason from Southsea in Hampshire, has chosen to make her film about farmer Rose Manning “I was really excited to be selected for the Down on the Farm commission” Linda says “Devon is such a beautiful part of our country and I enjoy telling everyday stories.  Rose has been farming all her life and now even in her mid seventies she is still caring for the young cattle and supporting on the farm.  I will tell Rose’s story through her daily routines on the farm and in the kitchen baking, as she prepares food and reminisces about her life.  My film “Lifelong Farmer” will weave together archive material, intimate and personal recollections of being a woman in farming over many decades.  I look forward to visiting the farm over the year and learning more about the busy 'retired' life of a farmer.”

The films will be completed at the end of next year and will be available to view online at the NDMI website www.northdevonmovingimage.org.uk and in the new social history gallery at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon.  In the meantime you will be able to keep up with news ‘from the field’ in a series of blog posts from the film makers which will be published on NDMI’s website and social media channels.

  Linda Mason film maker "Down on The Farm"

Call for Film Makers - Short Films about North Devon Farmers

The community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) is calling for film makers to apply for their inaugural £1,000 documentary short film commission, Down on the Farm.

Amanda McCormack, Creative Director of NDMI says “We work with local people to create, collect and share short films about north Devon and our projects give individuals and communities a voice whilst celebrating our local heritage.”

“An important part of NDMI’s remit is to support and nurture film making talent and Down on the Farm is our very first film commission. Thanks to our funders, each successful applicant will receive £1,000 to produce one film sharing the heritage and promoting the work of farmers and farming within the boundaries of North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve, including the coastal Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

The selection panel, comprising members of the TV and film industries, as well as farming and environmental organisations, will be looking for the most engaging stories and fascinating characters with the spirit of north Devon at their heart. Applicants will need to demonstrate strong story telling skills, creative outlook and examples of previous work.

Applicants are asked to submit a proposal via the North Devon Moving Image website www.northdevonmovingimage.org.uk for a five minute film falling into one of the following categories: 

• Farming through the Generations
• Women in Farming
• Back to Basics
• Farming with Nature
• Young Farmers
• Innovation and Enterprise

Amanda added “Our consultation for this project drew out plenty of farmers with great stories to tell, so if you are a film maker from outside the area we can put you in touch with willing subjects. We will also have local volunteers on hand to act as location managers and researchers if needed.”

Down on the Farm is funded by: Local North Devon funders: North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve, North Devon Coast AONB Sustainable Development Fund, Fullabrook CIC. National Funders: The Golsoncott Foundation, The Norman Family Charitable Trust.

For more information visit northdevonmovingimage.org.uk, email Amanda McCormack, Project Manager northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com or telephone 01271 860610.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1 August 2018.

North Devon Farming Film - Photo copyright NDMI (All Rights Reserved)

Sheep Farming in North Devon - Photo copyright NDMI (All Rights Reserved)

North Devon Farming Film Commission - Photo copyright NDMI (All Rights Reserved)

YOUNG FILM MAKERS PRODUCE SHORT FILMS TO HELP SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

Young film makers at Petroc college in Barnstaple have produced two short videos to help promote the work of Survivors Alliance North Devon (SAND). SAND provides a specialist counselling service in north Devon for adults who have suffered from sexual abuse or rape and their non-offending family members. Two groups of learners from the foundation learning programme at Petroc worked with community film maker Amanda McCormack from North Devon Moving Image (NDMI). They chose SAND from a number of local charitable organisations who pitched for the free digital media support.
 

Director of SAND, Karen Black says; "We were so delighted and felt privileged to be chosen by the students to design a multi media campaign that would help raise our profile in North Devon. The whole process was made simple and fun by both the students and Amanda and we were highly impressed with the level of student interest and maturity relating to this difficult subject. We are over the moon that through this project many more people in this area will be able to receive help from Survivors Alliance North Devon CIC, and realise that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”
 

Chantal Tonks, lead tutor on the Foundation Learning programme at Petroc adds; "The project is really beneficial to our learners, not only to find out more about the services that are available to them in their community but to support an organisation that they have chosen to raise awareness for and to take responsibility for the way the project is delivered. When they see the final results of their work it gives each learner a sense of pride and achievement at completing a media project, that can seem initially challenging, but through learning new skills and working together they have created something that is creative and meaningful."

Tap here to watch the films on the NDMI website 
Tap here to find out more about Survivors Alliance North Devon

Petroc Digital Media Project for SAND

Petroc Digital Media Project for SAND

Petroc Digital Media Project 2017 for SAND - Petroc learners and Russell from SAND (Top Right)
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Tap here to watch the films on the NDMI website 
Tap here to find out more about Survivors Alliance North Devon

A Universal Story of Love and Loss

Butterfly Effect Films is delighted that BBC One is launching their latest regional series Inside Out on Monday 15th Jan with their short film about love and loss. It tells the story of how a young, determined couple, Stan and Mary Bagwell meet on Sidmouth beach. Stan is the son of a fisherman, too poor to own a boat which makes him even more determined to buy one. Together, with a lot of hard graft, they build a thriving fishing business, only to have their world torn apart by a double tragedy in 1998. The women in the family pick up the pieces and it is Mary who leads the storytelling.

Mary is speaking, on the 20th anniversary of losing her son, Ian, at sea; to remind people of the ever present dangers of life on the waves. After viewing the short film, she told Jo Stewart-Smith, the film's producer "Ian was aware of the danger. He lost several friends himself at sea. He always said that if he went at sea he'd be forgotten, so I think he'd be very pleased and proud that his story is being told twenty years on."

The family first told their story for the film 'Working the Sea' made by Butterfly Effect Films for Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub which premiered at Sidmouth Sea Festival. The brief for this 40 minute documentary was a much wider sweep of history and included other members of the community using the sea. It is ultimately a film about how a mutual love and respect for the sea can draw a community together. The Coastal hub are delighted that the story is getting another outing and hope that the BBC film will draw new audiences to the wider community film.

The Bagwell's personal story of love and loss is also a universal story. As Mary says in the film "You never get over it. It's important to remember, but it's also teaches you to understand other people's suffering. So many mothers have lost sons and daughters - you understand..." Mary acknowledges that after the double tragedy she had a seriously tough time and didn't know which way to turn. She said to Jo, "you don't have a lot of choice. You just get on with it. You have to keep going for everyone else." But Mary and her inspirational family did so much more than that. Soon after the tragedy Ian's sister Lynn joined Sidmouth lifeboat volunteers as a tractor driver 'to try and give something back'. And all the family, including Ian's children have reached out to other bereaved people, raising money for the Fishermen's Mission and other charities.

The Butterfly Effect Films team of Simon Vacher as Director of Photography and Jo Stewart-Smith as writer, director want to thank the Bagwell family for trusting them to tell their story. Jo says, "the family were lovely to work with. Lively, with a sense of humour and very generous in the way they talk frankly about the fickle nature of fishing and a personal and often difficult, family story."

Watch the film on BBC One: Inside Out, Monday 15th January at 7.30pm. Afterwards it will be available on BBC iplayer for 30 days. Tap here to view a short trailer of the film

Stan and Mary Bagwell Photo copyright Butterfly Effect Films (All Rights Reserved)

Sidmouth Lifeboat launching from the tractor - Photo copyright Butterfly Effect Films (All Rights Reserved)

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ABOUT Butterfly Effect Films is a partnership between director of photography and editor Simon Vacher and writer and director Jo Stewart-Smith. Their mission is to help people share their stories by making films with high production values and great storytelling - films which will take wing and fly. jo@butterflyeffectfilms.com www.butterflyeffectfilms.com  

Sidmouth Coastal Community Hub www.sidmouthcoastalcommunityhub.org
Their Vision is to connect people with the sea and coast, promoting a greater understanding of the heritage, community identity, and social inclusion of Sidmouth and other coastal areas

Inside Out is the BBC’s regional current affairs programme

Down on the Farm - A North Devon Short Film Commission

Farmers, film makers and local communities are being invited to show their support for a landmark creative heritage project in north Devon. Local community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) is making plans to launch an exciting new film commission which will create a series of short documentary films about farmers and farming in northern Devon.

Creative Director of NDMI, Amanda McCormack says "Down on the Farm will be a unique chance for the farming community to share their stories with the wider world. Our Boat Stories films have been immensely popular and that project demonstrated the value of preserving and sharing local heritage on film. We now want to do for farming what Boat Stories did for fishing and Down on the Farm is set to do that."

Amanda adds "Part of our remit at NDMI is to support film makers, both in North Devon and the wider creative community throughout the UK. This commission will provide an exciting opportunity (and the money - £1,000 per film) for six emerging or experienced film makers to develop and exhibit their individual artistic and narrative skills."

Before NDMI can apply for funding they are seeking written support for the project. Amanda says she would like to hear from: 

• farming families who would like to be the subject of a film
• volunteers interested in local agricultural heritage who will support the film makers with research and contact with farmers
• film makers who would like to apply for a commission
• film tutors who believe this is a great opportunity for film production students
• members of the local community who would love to see the films made.

To find out more visit http://www.northdevonmovingimage.org.uk/down-on-the-farm.html and if you would like to show your support you can email Amanda at northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com, write to North Devon Moving Image, 2 Cullamartin, Instow, Bideford, Devon EX39 4LU or visit the NDMI website and complete the contact form.

 

Film Making Summer Schools. Unique Opportunity for Creative Kids in North Devon

Community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) will be running two film making summer schools for children and teenagers this coming August.

Creative Director of NDMI, Amanda McCormack is really excited to be providing this unique opportunity for youngsters in North Devon “There will be two week-long workshops in Instow, one for 11 to 15 year olds from 7th-11th August and the other for ages 6 to 11 from 14th-18th August .” says Amanda “The younger group will be creating a fun Creature Comforts style stop motion film and the older group will be given a surprise “prop box” to inspire the story for their short film.”

To maximise the benefit for each participant there are only six places available on each course and the young film makers will be supported by two workshop facilitators. The participation fee is £150 per child and there is a sibling discount available. All the details are on the North Devon Moving Image website  or you can telephone Amanda McCormack on 01271 860610 for more information.

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NDMI ACADEMY
1. Film Making Summer School Ages 11-15
Monday 7th August to Friday 11th August 2017 - 11am to 3pm
​ Venue: St John's Church Room, Rectory Lane, Instow EX39 4LU
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2. Animation Summer School Ages 6-11
Monday 14th August to Friday 18th August 2017 - ​9am to 1pm
​Venue: St John's Church Room, Rectory Lane, Instow EX39 4LU

Applications for the Summer Schools are now open.

Tap here for further details

Funds for learning, exploring and celebrating

Eleven different groups and organisations have received a small grant from the North Devon Coast AONB from this year’s Sustainable Development Fund. Some of the projects focussed on young people, such as Seize the Moment’s ‘Heaven and Hell’ which received £3,880 to support young people to explore the social and cultural history of local churches. Combe Martin Museum’s grant of £3,650 was to purchase an easy to use microscope, screen and binoculars for family beach safaris focussed on geology and wildlife.

Getting different communities engaged with the AONB was superbly achieved by North Devon Moving Image with £3,240 grant for their ‘Wild Shorts’ film competition about wildlife and the environment in the AONB, and Hartland Abbey’s grant of £3,500 for new displays about farming and use of the estate for TV and film productions to inform and thrill their visitors. Two grants were for projects linked to one of our rarest species, the Greater Horseshoe Bats in and around Braunton, with £500 for Braunton Parish Council to create a bat viewing platform and £950 for Braunton Countryside Centre to create an ‘audio bat trail’.

Looking after and understanding our local environment was the focus of a £2,000 grant to Tarka Country Trust to help local communities to manage their verges for wildlife and flowers, a grant of £281 to buy beach cleaning equipment for Croyde Community beach clean group and an £890 grant to Coastwise North Devon for a digital camera and microscope to increase understanding and awareness of the micro-life around our coasts.

The grant scheme is open now to applications for projects to start from April 2017 onwards and is available to individuals, groups, organisations or businesses. “Projects should help to look after the North Devon Coast AONB’s special landscape, special features, wild plants or animals,” said SDF Panel chair Caroline Leaver. “This may be through direct activities or through learning, increasing understanding and awareness. A particular focus of the scheme for 2017 is the historic environment of the AONB and projects related to health and wellbeing using the AONB landscape.”

Full guidance and applications forms are available on the AONB website www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk/our-work/grants or contact the scheme administrator Gigha Klinkenborg on 01271 388647 or gigha.klinkenborg@devon.gov.uk

Wild Shorts Film Making Competition,Wild Shorts Secondary School Category Winners, Hartland Abbey Exhibition,Combe Martin Museum Equpment Photos Copyright North Devon AONB (All rights reserved)

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Tap link for North Devon AONB

Contact Scheme administrator Gigha Klinkenborg 

on 01271 388647 or Email: gigha.klinkenborg@devon.gov.uk

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• The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) supports projects that bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The fund aims to support projects which demonstrate new methods of achieving a more sustainable way of life in this area of great beauty and diversity. North Devon Coast AONB receives this money from Defra because the area is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

• The work of the North Devon Coast AONB staff unit is guided by the AONB Partnership, which includes representatives from: Natural England, Devon County Council, Torridge District Council, North Devon Council, Environment Agency, National Farmers Union, Tarka Country Trust, North Devon Biosphere Foundation, Country Landowners and Business Association, National Trust, Taw Torridge Estuary Forum, Forestry Commission, South West Forest, North Devon+ and North Devon Biosphere Reserve Partnership.

North Devon Film Competition Produces a Feast for the Senses

A film competition has produced a series of wonderful short films showcasing the natural beauty of North Devon. 

Community film making organisation North Devon Moving Image CIC (NDMI) ran the Wild Shorts competition between May and November 2016 with the aim of raising awareness of the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). 

“Entries came in from new and experienced film makers of all ages and the quality and variety of subject and creative style was impressive.” Says NDMI Creative Director, Amanda McCormack, who hosted the Oscars-style Wild Shorts Awards ceremony in Barnstaple last Friday.

Twenty year old film student Rhys Harris, who travelled from Cornwall to North Devon to make his Wild Short, Places Afar, won both first prize in the Adults category and the overall Judges’ Choice Award.

Kathryn Jeffs, a Senior Producer at the BBC’s Natural History Unit was on the Wild Shorts judging panel.  She praised Places Afar, saying “Loved this film. Intriguing opening, beautifully filmed, captured my attention immediately. This had visual flare married beautifully with spoken word.  Contemplative, well paced, expansive and thoughtful. I could watch on loop. Wonderful!”

Rhys was delighted with the outcome “Winning the competition was a huge boost of confidence for me. The fact that something I made was able to win something means that I must be doing something right! I had a great time attending the awards show and I can't stress enough how thankful I am to everyone involved. Now I have the spike in motivation to go and make something new!"

The Wild Shorts project which included film making workshops for families, school children and adults was funded by the North Devon Coast AONB, Fullabrook CIC and the Tarka Country Trust. “The films produced for the Wild Shorts competition show how the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty provide a feast of the senses for all those who visit and enjoy them.” said AONB Manager Jenny Carey-Wood. “From the tastes of wild fruit and fungi, the feel of sand and shells, the sounds of seabirds and streams, the sight of the sea and sky and the views out to Lundy and inland to the heaths and woodlands. This project has comprehensively achieved the objectives of our Sustainable Development Fund by reaching new people and increasing understanding and awareness of the AONB.”

Thanking the project’s funders and partners at the Wild Shorts Awards ceremony, Amanda McCormack gave a special mention to the local business and organisations whose generous prize donations (see below) were a great enticement to participation in the competition. 

Full list of winners by category:

1. Primary School: Rockpooling Club by Torchlight! by Paige, Daisy, Noah, Lily and Mr Hockley from Combe Martin Primary School. Prize 4 X child season tickets to Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park
2. Secondary School: Colours in Nature by Willow Chater, Lauryn Reed and Ella Jenkins. Prize 3 X child annual passes to Ilfracombe Aquarium
3. Age 12-17:  Our Guide to Sustainable Living by Seraphina Allard-Bridge and Martha Macdonald Prize 4 X Day passes to GoldCoast Oceanfest 2017
4. Family: Mouth Mill by Alice Bollen, Remo Rossi and Lorenzo Rossi.  Prize annual family membership to Devon Wildlife Trust.
5. Adult: a.  Winner: Places Afar by Rhys Harris. Prize Annual Membership to National Trust.   b.   Runner Up: My Favourite Walk: The Speke’s Mill Valley by Rhodri Davies.  Prize annual car park pass for Down End Croyde.

Judges’ Choice Award: Places Afar by Rhys Harris.

The 15 Wild Shorts shortlist nominees’ and winners’ films are now available to watch on the North Devon Moving Image website and Youtube playlist

 

Primary School - Tom Williams (local vet, wildlife vlogger & judge) Mr Hockley and young film makers from Combe Martin Primary School for their film Rockpooling Club by Torchlight! and Amanda McCormack (NDMI)

 Secondary School - Lawrence Raybone (Ilfracombe Aquarium) and winners and nominees from Ilfracombe Academy Winners - Willow Chater, Lauryn Reed, Ella Jenkins for Colours in Nature

12-17 category - TV producer/director Martin Kemp (judge) nominee Jonathan Lethaby, winners Martha Macdonald and Seraphina Allard-Bridge, nominees Amazon Bray, Charlotte Phillipson and Amanda McCormack (NDMI)

 Family - Local film maker Jo Stewart-Smith (judge) Alice Bollen & Remo Rossi (winners of family category with film Mouth Mill), Amanda McCormack (NDMI)

Adult category nominees & winners: Rhys Harris (winner), Rhodri Davies (runner up), Chris Sharp (nominee), Thomas Martin (nominee), Catherine Oliver (nominee), Andrew Woollacott from Christie Devon Estates (judge) and Amanda McCormack (NDMI)

Judges' Choice - Judges' Choice category winner Rhys Harris for his film Places Afar, Jenny Carey-Wood (AONB & judge), Amanda McCormack (NDMI)

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The 15 Wild Shorts shortlist nominees’ and winners’ films are now available to watch on the
 North Devon Moving Image website and Youtube playlist

Exclusive 'Meet the Wildlife Film Crew' Event in Croyde

Dr Ted Oakes, Series Producer from the world famous BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, will be hosting a screening of his film Tribes, Predators & Me - Crocodile People of New Guinea at Croyde's Deckchair Cinema on Saturday 24 September 2016. The film will be followed by an opportunity for the audience to meet some of the 'Tribes, Predators & Me' team, including Ted who produced the series, and find out more about their work and experiences with the crocodiles!

Ted, who has a long standing connection to North Devon was invited to host the event by local community film makers North Devon Moving Image (NDMI).  Amanda McCormack, Creative Director of NDMI, says "We initially approached Ted to be a judge for our North Devon Coast AONB Wild Shorts wildlife and environment film making competition. As a keen conservationist and fan of North Devon's natural beauty Ted jumped on board and kindly offered to host this exciting event to help us raise funds for our project."

In 'Crocodile People of New Guinea' the Tribes, Predators & Me team travel to Papua New Guinea to film the crocodile worshippers of the Sepik River. Crocodile hunters invited cameraman and presenter Gordon Buchanan  to join them catching adult crocodiles with their bare hands and he meets a tribe who believe a giant crocodile protects them from their human enemies.

Amanda adds "This is going to be a fascinating and fun evening, the bar will be open and Calaca Loca will be on hand to dish up some delicious Mexican street food.  Tickets are only £6 and £4 for under 18s and can be bought online from the North Devon Moving Image website."

All profits will be shared between NDMI's Wild Shorts project and Lynx Trust UK.

Booking is essential.  To find out more and to book a place visit: http://www.northdevonmovingimage.org.uk/events.html contact Amanda McCormack at northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com or telephone 01271 860610.

 BBC Presenter, Gordon Buchanan with the Crocodile People of New Guinea

 

Tribes, Predators & Me - Crocodile People of New Guinea - Photos copyright BBC Natural History Unit (All Rights Reserved)

Are you the next Attenborough? Wildlife Film Making Workshop at Northam Burrows

Could you be the next David Attenborough? Come and learn the principles and get some hands-on experience of wildlife film making with professional film makers and local wildlife experts at this one day intensive wildlife film making workshop.

Torridge District Council and the Northam Burrows team are working with community film makers North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) to run this one day workshop for ages 16 and over at Northam Burrows Country Park on Sunday 11 September 2016.

Amanda McCormack, Creative Director of NDMI says "The event is part of our Wild Shorts wildlife and environment competition project. This intensive workshop would normally cost £50 per person but thanks to our funders The North Devon Coast AONB, Fullabrook CIC and the Tarka Country Trust we are able to offer places at £10 for adults and £5 for 16 and 17 year olds. Parking on the Burrows is £3.50 but if you get there before 9.30am it's free."

"Participants can expect a real hands-on, interactive experience. There are only 10 places available, which will allow everyone to gain as much as possible from the event."

 One day workshop for ages 16 and over at Northam Burrows Country Park on Sunday 11 September 2016

Booking is essential.   

Tap here to findout more and to book a place 

or contact Amanda McCormack at northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com or telephone 01271 860610. 

Butterfly Effect Films 'Captures the Magic' with their first film

Following the success of the boat stories film series, Jo Stewart-Smith (producer) and Simon Vacher (director of photography) formed the partnership Butterfly Effect Films to make more powerful short films which will fly far and wide. They've delivered their first film, 'Creating New Farm Wetlands' for North Devon's Biosphere

The film covers the hot topic: how to prevent agricultural runoff which can pollute the river system, force closure of fledgling shellfish businesses in the estuary and lower water quality on bathing beaches. The teams made a decision early on to ask the farmers to tell the story in their words (just like Boat Stories did with the fishermen.) Jo Stewart-Smith says, "I did wonder whether farmers working in the hills would want to talk about pollution in the estuary, but as soon as I listened to the farmers, a different picture emerged and I realised we rarely hear their side of the story."  As Phil Morrish from Stoneyard farm, near Barnstaple says "the last thing we want to do is lose precious sediment and nutrients into the river. By digging a simple sediment trap, we can actually return this nutrient-rich soil to the farm."

Jo adds, "initially the farmers may have felt outside their comfort zone speaking on camera, but their passion for the project overrode any worries and they were walking and talking us through like professional presenters." As Phil digs a series of ditches, he explains "the important thing I learned is slowing the flow of water gives the sediment and nutrients time to settle out and at the same time reduces the flash flood risk to nearby Barnstaple." The result is a positive, inspiring film which reveals that creating new wetlands brings numerous other benefits to the farm like saving electricity on the dirty water pumps or needing less bedding in the sheds. Andrew Mather's new wildlife ponds now form one of the attractions for caravaners visiting Hallsdown farm on the fringes of Exmoor. Tom Hynes, biodiversity officer for the biosphere, outlines the long term gains for all of us as the patchwork of new wetlands matures and the water quality in the estuary improves. As Phil Morrish says "this project benefits the farm and the river environment so it's a win win situation." Director of Photography, Simon says, "To make the link between the hills and the estuary we followed the course of the river Yeo weaving its way through some of the most scenically beautiful parts of North Devon to the wide open ocean. This area of the South West is a film-makers dream." Dawn Murphy from Morte Wildlife Group said "I thoroughly enjoyed watching the film and was interested to learn about the win win perspective the created wetlands have achieved.  The film has captured the ' magic ' of Boat Stories all over again!"

Simon Vacher filming Tom Hynes & Andrew Mather by the new pond - Photo copyright Jo Stewart-Smith (All rights reserved)

Simon Vacher filming Chris & Phil Morrish for North Devon's Biosphere 

Andrew Mather in the sheep sheds and Digging the new ponds

All Photos copyright Butterfly Films (All rights reserved)

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 The film can be viewed on the biosphere's estuary project page http://www.northdevonbiosphere.org.uk/estuary-project.html  or on butterfly effects http://www.butterflyeffectfilms.com   

It was made to inspire other farmers to create wetlands and take up available grants so don't forget to watch and share.