Boat Stories Films Continue to Make Waves for North Devon

The boat stories series of ten short films is continuing to make big waves for North Devon. 'Fishing for Clovelly Herring' has been chosen by the jury for Plymouth Film Festival on 13-15th May. Selected from over 450 submissions, this lively film will be shown as part of the Sunday brunch session and is up for best documentary, best of the south west and the people's choice award. This whole series is being shown this week at Exeter Phoenix before the feature length documentaries at the UK Green Film Festival, billed as a nationwide celebration for film lovers and green thinkers. In April the films were shown at the inaugural and colourful Ilfracombe Film Festival. Amanda Gartshore festival organiser says 'Boat Stories were a big hit with the festival audience. "Some seeing them for the first time loved them because they featured people they knew and others who'd already seen them came to watch them on the big screen." Last autumn two of the films were part of the official jury selection at Bath Film Festival. Jo Stewart-Smith, director and producer of the films says 'it's fantastic to see the Boat Stories buzz continuing, long after we sailed on our last filming trip. Once again I want to thank all the talented local cameramen, Simon Vacher, Matt Biggs, Mark Brindle, Stu Gaunt and Rich Stevenson and our sound assistants, Josh Hawker and Oscar Adams plus the ten versatile musicians we worked with - a different one for each film - together we made a great team."

Jo has been showing the films and revealing some of the adventures of cast and crew at a series of talks in packed village halls for Beaford Arts. The final talk is at High Bickington on Friday 13th May. Stephen Perham star of the film Fishing for Clovelly Herring will be chatting about his experiences alongside another boat stories star Thom Flaxman, relief coxswain and crew on the Bideford pilot.

Recently Glorious Oyster (of food and farming awards fame) partnered with Treyhill farm to show the films at a fundraiser for Sea-Changers. Several festivals are coming back for seconds. The films will be on show for the second year running at the Westward Ho Fish Festival in June and at Sea Ilfracombe and Appledore Book Festivals in the Autumn. Jo adds, "I want to remind local businesses, tourist and activity centres and groups of friends that they are welcome to show these films. They make great entertainment for those rare, rainy evenings we get in North Devon!"

Boat Stories DVDs are available from many tourist information centres, museums and galleries in Appledore, Bideford, Braunton, Clovelly, Ilfracombe, Mortehoe, Westward Ho! and Woolacombe or from the website www.boatstories.co.uk

Stephen Perham leaving harbour in Dad’s old boat Neptune 
“herrings rise to the light” Clovelly
Photos copyright Jo Stewart-Smith (All rights reserved)  
Tap links below for tickets:

 Plymouth Film Festival
 Exeter Phoenix UK Green Film Festival
 Beaford Arts Boat Stories at High Bickington Community Centre

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Boat Stories films were part funded by Northern Devon FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group,) Bideford Bridge Trust, Tarka Country Trust, Fullabrook CIC, The Clovelly Estate, the West Country Rivers Trust and North Devon Plus
Boat Stories was hosted by Amanda McCormack from North Devon Moving Image CIC: a community film making organisation creating, collecting and sharing short documentary films about life in North Devon. 

Rare 'white blackbird' lands in North Devon

A rare albino blackbird has been spotted in Hatherleigh, North Devon. The 'white blackbird' was discovered by Devon Wildlife Trust's Jo Pullin in her back garden. Jo, who has worked for the conservation charity for 14 years, picks up the story: 

 "My children and I spotted something unusual in the undergrowth at the edge of our garden. We went to investigate and soon discovered it was a white blackbird. It looked like it had only just recently left the nest." 

"I've seen birds with odd colouring before, but never a completely white blackbird. It really stood out and looked very vulnerable." 

Albinism in birds is not unusual. It is caused when the normal pigmentation of feathers is missing. However, in most cases birds show patches of white feathers or dull colouring. This partial albinism, as it is called, is relatively common. But what was rare about the case of the Hatherleigh blackbird was that it lacked all colour, even in its eyes. It belonged to a condition which is much more unusual and is known as being a true albino. The story of the white blackbird may not have ended well. Its unusual looks may have meant it lived a short life. 

Steve Hussey from Devon Wildlife Trust commented on its likely fate: 

"Being pure white isn't a great survival strategy for a blackbird, particularly as a fledgling. When you've just left the nest you want to be as inconspicuous as possible to avoid the predatory eyes of cats and sparrowhawks. Added to this, part of the condition of albinos often means they have poor or little eyesight. I fear that this little chap's life was probably a very brief one." 

Jo Pullin seemed to confirm this distinctly off-colour prediction for the white blackbird. Jo said: 

"We looked for the blackbird the next day but couldn't see it anywhere." 

Spring is the time when many people find baby birds in their gardens. Despite their vulnerability the advice of Devon Wildlife Trust is to leave them well alone, while keeping pet cats and dogs away. 

 The whiteBlackbird of Hatherleigh. Photo: copyright  Jo Pullin (All rights reserved)

Celebrate woodlands as sensational spring story starts to unfold

The Wildlife Trusts are urging everyone to get out and enjoy one of nature's wonders: our woodlands.

Woodland in springtime is one of the great spectacles of nature, full of birdsong, wildflowers and the soft bright green of new leaves. The Wildlife Trusts believes that they are a spectacle not to be missed. It's why the charity is urging people to visit their local woodland in the coming weeks.

Steve Hussey, from Devon Wildlife Trust, said:

"A walk through a woodland during Spring offers opportunities aplenty to indulge your senses, and tune in to the wild, as the story of Spring unfolds; from the arrival of migrant birds to the unrolling of Bluebell carpets. Our message to people is to get out there now and enjoy this uplifting, free experience. Do not miss one of nature's most wonderful seasonal events."

Bill Oddie OBE, The Wildlife Trusts' Vice President, offers his advice on the best time to visit a woodland for the first time:

"Early spring, when the shapes of the branches are still clear but spangled with new buds. The birds are singing and you can see them, which isn't so easy once the trees are in full leaf. When the sun shines through those trees it can be just like the lights at a music concert. Even when raining, it's fabulous!"

April sees our woodlands spring to life. Listen for the great spotted woodpecker, and their smaller rare cousin the lesser spotted woodpecker, now drumming - beating out the rhythm of the season. Watch the darting and twisting flights of pied and spotted flycatchers as they hunt for flying insects.

Devon Wildlife Trust's nature reserves at Dunsford (near Exeter), Warleigh Point (near Plymouth) and Halsdon (near Hatherleigh) are all excellent places to see and hear woodland birds this spring. Under foot, a carpet of colour is quietly and steadily unfolding. Over the space of a few weeks in spring, from mid April onwards, bluebells set our woodlands ablaze with their bright blue flowers. The UK is home to more than half the world's population of Hyacinthoides non-scripta, making the bluebell our unofficial national flower, and their presence is a sure sign of very old woodland. The Wildlife Trusts care for hundreds of the finest bluebell woods, wonderful places to experience the sights, sounds and smells of spring. The Wildlife Trusts look after more than 400 woodlands across the UK - from flower-strewn ancient woodlands to wild coastal woods, damp and rich in lichen and moss. If the wood you visit is a remnant of ancient woodland, there could be carpets of wood anemones, followed by wild garlic and bluebells. Devon Wildlife Trust's Scanniclift Copse (near Chudleigh), Andrew's Wood (South Hams) and Lady's Wood (near Ivybridge) are all great places to see woodland flowers this spring. To help people explore their local woodland this spring The Wildlife Trusts have produced a guide to discovering favourite woodland walks and great places to see bluebells, ancient and unusual trees and woodland butterflies. All are available at www.wildlifetrusts.org

Bill Oddie concludes: "How to get the best out of a wood? Take photos, all through the year, in different light and weather, both close up and wide. Notice shapes and textures. Look at a wood as a work of art, which it is!"

Pied Flycatcher - Photo copyright Neil Bygrave (All rights reserved)

 A Devon woodland with bluebells.- Photo copyright Kevin New (All rights reserved)

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