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. 

Charity provides unique opportunity to explore wildlife haven from the water.

A conservation charity is promising a day of water sports and nature discovery on one of its top North Devon reserves.

Devon Wildlife Trust is teaming up with Encompass Training SW to explore the lakes at Meeth Quarry nature reserve near Hatherleigh by canoe, kayak and raft! This is a unique opportunity as the lakes are not normally open to water sports activities.

The event takes place on Thursday 1 September with two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Sessions cost £12 per person and booking is essential.

Devon Wildlife Trust's Jasmine Atkinson said:

"The upcoming Water Sports Day is a unique opportunity to get out on the lakes and explore Meeth Quarry from a watery angle. Families will have the chance to kayak and canoe around Woolladon Lake and test their creative abilities with raft-building!"

"We'll be on the lookout for some of Meeth's amazing wildlife. Dragonflies will be patrolling the lake edges and we'll be joined by many water birds including little grebes and tufted ducks!"

A free family day will run alongside the water sports activities. Visitors can explore the wildlife of Meeth with pond -dipping, bug hunting, trails and crafts. There will also be two guided walks at 11am and 1pm to delve deeper into nature.

Devon Wildlife Trust's Lucy Flatman is looking forward to welcoming visitors:

"Our Open Day at Meeth aims to introduce families to this wonderful reserve and it's diverse wildlife. Meeth is a reserve with an unusual history which we feel makes it all the more special. We will have activities, trails and crafts available to visitors on the 1st September and we hope to see a good turnout."

Meeth Quarry only became a Devon Wildlife Trust nature reserve in 2013. It was formerly a clay quarry but ceased work in the early 2000s after 100 years of production. Despite its industrial past the reserve is a wildlife hotspot being well-known for its dragonflies, butterflies, birds and deer.

At 150 hectares Meeth Quarry is one of Devon Wildlife Trust's biggest nature reserves. It is also one of its most easily accessible. The Tarka Trail cycle route runs through its heart. Bike trails, footpaths and easy access trails allow visitors to explore. The reserve is also served by toilets and a large car park, located via an access lane from Meeth village and the A386, four miles north of Hatherleigh
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To find out more about the Meeth Quarry Water Sports Day go to the 'What's on' pages of www.devonwildlifetrust.org 

or ring 01392 279244 to book your place!

Location: Meeth Quarry,  Hatherleigh, Devon, EX20 3ER - Grid referenceSS 547 078 

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.