“WHAAM JR” - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase 24th March

Get ready for “WHAAM JR” - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase on Friday 24th March at the Pier House, Westward Ho! The event will be representing North Devon’s youth bands, singers and choirs performing in aid of the Royal National Life Institution's Appledore Lifeboat Station.

Following the enormous success of “WHAAM” Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase on 28th September 2016 there was a popular demand to showcase the talents of North Devon’s Youth Bands, Singers and Choirs featuring a broad spectrum of music from rock ’n roll bands to folksy bands and individual singers, from youth theatre groups, senior schools and colleges, pantomimes and interspersed with a few seniors so that young people may gain knowledge and experience from them.

This event is a great opportunity for young people to showcase their musical talents in front of a live audience, to gain experience, enhance their confidence in performing and confirm that “North Devon’s Got Talent!”  There will also be a Grand Raffle in aid of the RNLI.

Doors open at 6.00pm and the entertainment will run continuously from 7.00pm to 11.45pm with a short break at 9.00pm for the Grand Raffle.

SPECIAL FEATURES 6.15pm – 7.00pm
YOUTH SESSION 7.00pm – 10.00pm
SENIOR SESSION 10.00pm – 11.45pm

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Contact:  John Barton Tel: 01237 476 068 - Email: noahsark@uku.co.uk - Facebook

“WHAAM JR” - Westward Ho! & Appledore Music Showcase 
Friday 24th March 2017 from 6.00 to 12.00pm
at the Pier House, Westward Ho!

Representing North Devon’s youth bands, singers and choirs performing in aid of the Royal National Life Institution's Appledore Lifeboat Station.

Charity hopes to open 'Nature School'

A local conservation charity has announced that it hopes to open Devon's first 'Nature School'.

Devon Wildlife Trust wants to open the Nature School as a combined nursery and primary school aimed at children aged 3 to 11 years using the free school model widely adopted elsewhere. The Nature School would be a 'mainstream' school, open to all, following the National Curriculum, but one which the charity says would put outdoor learning and the natural environment at the heart of a high quality education for local children.

Okehampton has been put forward as the proposed location for the school. The town has been identified by Devon County Council as an area where there is an urgent need for more primary school places to be provided. If the Trust's proposals are successful the Nature School would occupy new premises to be built on the north-east outskirts of the town close to Crediton Road.

Devon Wildlife Trust is now talking to local authorities, people and schools in the West Devon market town to gauge their support for the proposal. The Trust's Chief Executive Harry Barton said:

"We are seeking support from members of the community across Okehampton, in particular from parents whose children would be eligible to attend primary school in 2018 or 2019 and who live in the Okehampton area or nearby."

As part of this conversation the charity is holding a Nature School consultation day. Staff from Devon Wildlife Trust will be on hand at the Ockment Centre<http://www.ockmentcentre.org/>, North Street, Okehampton between 2pm and 7pm on Friday 24th February to discuss the proposals and answer questions. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Devon Wildlife Trust has established a long track record of working with young people since its foundation in 1962. Now the charity is keen to extend this work deepening the positive link between young people the natural world. Harry Barton explained:

"Each year Devon Wildlife Trust supports many thousands of school children to learn through nature. Our plan to open a Nature School is rooted in our experience that children thrive, are happier and their attainment improves when their learning is linked closely to the natural world around them. The positive feedback we receive from the teachers, students and parents we work with is supported by an impressive body of independent research. Ofsted has also reported that learning outside the classroom contributes significantly to raising standards and improving pupils' personal, social and emotional development."

Harry Barton added:

"We hope that Okehampton will become the first community in Devon to benefit from a Nature School. The town has a fascinating history and is surrounded by wonderful countryside, with rivers, parklands and woodlands, and all within a stone's throw of Dartmoor National Park.  I can't think of a better place for a Nature School, and I really look forward to working with teachers and the local community to make it a success."

"Our intention is not to compete with other schools. At Okehampton there is a need for more primary school places which we can help address. We want to work alongside existing local schools and become part of a thriving school community delivering high quality education."

Devon Wildlife Trust's plan for a Nature School is one of four being proposed by Wildlife Trust's in England. The others include schools at Chippenham in Wiltshire, Nuneaton in Warwickshire and Smethwick in Birmingham.

The Okehampton Nature School is still at the planning stage and success will be subject to an application to the Department of Education (DofE). This application is planned for spring 2017 with a scheduled school opening estimated as early as 2018.

However, plans for the Nature School will only proceed if Devon Wildlife Trust can demonstrate strong local support. So, as part of its application process, the charity is now asking the public for its backing.

People who wish to register their support for plans to establish Devon's first Nature School can do so at a dedicated website www.natureschools.org.uk/devon.html

People with questions about Devon Wildlife Trust's Nature School plans are being urged to email contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org & ;mailto:contactus@devonwildlifetrust.org using the message title 'Nature Schools'

Children working with Devon Wildlife Trust in an outdoor learning environment. Photo copyright Charlie Tyjas (All Rights Reserved)

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