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

Local charity nominated for top BBC Countryfile award

Local conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust could be in line for a prestigious honour for its work with beavers.

The Trust has been nominated jointly with a similar project in Scotland in the 'Wildlife Success of the Year' category of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2017. The nomination is recognition of the work being done by Devon Wildlife Trust with the beavers which are living on the River Otter in East Devon. The beavers are thought to be the first wild population in England for 400 years. The Trust is now hoping that people from across Devon, the South West and beyond will vote in the poll being organised by BBC Countryfile Magazine which will determine the winner.

The Trust's Steve Hussey said:

"We were delighted to hear the good news of the nomination. Now that public voting has opened we're urging all beaver supporters to get their votes in either on-line or via a copy of BBC Countryfile Magazine. If we can win it will show public support for these important and fascinating animals."

A breeding population of beavers was first discovered on the River Otter in 2014. No one knows how the beavers came to be living wild in East Devon. In 2015 Devon Wildlife Trust was granted a five-year licence from Natural England which allowed the beavers to remain after they were initially threatened with removal. The licence also allowed the charity to establish a project which will monitor the beavers until 2020 when a decision about their long term future is to be made by the government. The project involves several local partners including Clinton Devon Estates,

University of Exeter and the Derek Gow Consultancy.

Steve added:

"We're very proud to be leading the River Otter Beaver Trial. Beavers are remarkable animals which can add to the richness of our countryside's wildlife and play a part in improving water quality and even help guard against the worst effects of flooding. Beavers went extinct in the UK centuries ago, but now they are back in Devon they have certainly become celebrities attracting many hundreds of people hoping to see them."

Shortlisting for the BBC Wildlife Magazine Awards was done by a panel of judges which included Bill Bryson, John Craven and Anita Rani. The nomination draws attention to the beavers' long absence from the UK countryside and the historic work done with the animals both in Scotland and Devon.

The nomination reads:

"These riparian architects were hunted to extinction in Britain 400-500 years ago. Now, thanks to the success of a trial on the Knapdale Estate in Argyll, they've been given leave to stay and Government protection [in Scotland], making them the first mammals to be officially reintroduced to the UK landscape. In Devon, a wild breeding population is living on the River Otter and is being monitored by the Devon Wildlife Trust."

Other nominated projects in the same award category include conservation work done with dormice, cirl buntings, bumblebees and bitterns.

Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey added:

"All the projects nominated would be worthy winners, but there is something about beavers, the fact that they have been lost for so long and now are back which we feel gives them the edge. Being involved in the project, seeing the animals swimming in a Devon river has been such a thrill - it has meant being a part of an amazing chapter in our country's natural history. Surely that must be worth people's vote!"

People can vote in the BBC Countryfile Magazine Awards 2017 by going on-line and picking their winners at www.countryfile.com/awards or by filling out a simple form in the February edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine. The poll ends on 28th February 2017.

A mother and kits on the River Otter, East Devon. Photo copyright Mike Symes (All Rights Reserved)

Devon charity makes top appointment

An influential Devon conservation charity has announced the appointment of its new Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Dr Peta Foxall is taking over the role at Devon Wildlife Trust. She will head the charity's Board of Trustees, the body which determines the Trust's strategic direction. As with all the charity's trustee board members, Dr Foxall's position is an unpaid,voluntary one.

Dr Foxall brings a wide range of experience to the leadership role. Her background is in senior positions in the fields of education, science and health. She holds a PhD in biological chemistry and worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital before gaining a senior lectureship at the University of London. More recently, Peta was Professor and Director of Postgraduate Programmes at the University of Exeter Medical School and Chair of the School's research ethics committee.

In her personal life Dr Foxall describes herself as a "committed volunteer". She is a public governor of the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and works in her local community village shop. She also owns and manages an ancient woodland on the banks of the River Taw in Devon.

Dr Foxall will lead a 15 strong board of trustees for Devon Wildlife Trust which has more than 31,000 supporters. Its Chief Executive Harry Barton welcomed the news of her appointment:

"I'm delighted to welcome Peta Foxall to the role of Chair of Trustees. To be able to appoint someone of such experience and expertise is wonderful news for our charity.

Peta has been a Devon Wildlife Trust supporter since 2003 and has served as one of our trustees for six years, so she knows us well. We're looking forward to her sharing her broad experience of senior management with us. For an ambitious and growing charity such as ours her background in fields including health, education and the sciences will be a real plus."

Dr Foxall looked forward to her new role:

"I have worked with world-renowned hospitals and universities in London and Exeter and know that Devon Wildlife Trust has the same organisational integrity, commitment and courage as those centres of excellence. I am delighted to have the opportunity to translate my professional expertise to the role of Chair. I will focus on providing strategic leadership for the Board of Trustees as well as supporting (and occasionally challenging) the Chief Executive. Fostering an ethos of enjoyment in working together means we will have the insight, flexibility and strength to address the challenges and uncertainties that come our way as a wildlife charity."

Dr Peta Foxall steps into the role vacated by BBC filmmaker and well-known Devon naturalist Andrew Cooper who stepped down last autumn. It was a position that Andrew had occupied for 11 years.

Harry Barton paid tribute to Andrew Cooper:

"Andrew's legacy as Chair of our Trustees is a Devon Wildlife Trust which is doing more good work for local wildlife than ever before. Under his stewardship our supporters have grown to more than 31,000 people, our number of nature reserves has grown to 50, we are working with more landowners and farmers than ever before, and we have opened our first visitor attraction in the shape of Seaton Jurassic. It's a proud record to pass on."

Dr Foxall's appointment was confirmed at a recent meeting of Devon Wildlife Trust's trustees. She said:

"It is truly humbling to have been nominated by my fellow Trustees to be the Chair of Devon Wildlife Trust. Their endorsement means a lot to me because I value highly their tangible sense of responsibility to the Trust and collective knowledge and passion for wildlife and natural landscapes."

  Dr Peta Foxall, Chair of Trustees, Devon Wildlife Trust