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)

Discovering Devon’s secretive night-time predator

A Devon-based project is aiming to shine a light on the night time lives of one of the county’s rarest nocturnal animals: the greater horseshoe bat.

During September a host of activities and events will help the public take a closer look at the mysterious lives of greater horseshoe bats.

This is the idea behind the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project’s first Bat Festival to be held in September. Events across the county will help people of all ages discover more about this secretive night-time predator and take part in its long term conservation. The festival is to be mix of walks, talks, surveys, and even a night-time bat-themed swim, all aimed at getting people interested in the lives of their local bats.

A full list of festival events and locations include:

3rd Kingsbridge Show Kingsbridge
3rd Saving Wildflowers practical conservation event East Devon
5th – 26th Bat Beacon exhibition Dartmouth
5th Research Survey Bat Blitz Buckfastleigh
8th Bat Trail walk Tamar Valley
9th Evening bat walk Donkey Sanctuary
9th Starry Night Bat Swim Buckfastleigh
13th Evening bat walk Braunton
14th Bat Beacon launch with walk Donkey Sanctuary

17^th Bioblitz Croyde

17^th Evening bat walk Croyde

22^nd Evening bat walk Braunton

23^rd Research Survey Bat Blitz Berry Head

23^rd Bat talk Teignmouth

23^rd Bat talk Dartmouth

The population of greater horseshoe bats has declined dramatically in the UK during the last century, mainly due to the expanding built environment and agricultural change. This trend has been mirrored across northern Europe, but Devon remains a stronghold for the large bat.

Now a new five-year project is now working to halt these declines. The Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project is working with many local communities in Devon to secure the future of the species locally. The partnership project, involving 19 organisations led by Devon Wildlife Trust, is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Ed Parr Ferris, the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project’s manager said:

“Greater horseshoe bats are fascinating creatures. They are built to hunt and armed with sharp teeth which can dismember their prey very quickly. But don’t worry, moths, craneflies and beetles are on this predator’s menu, not people. In fact seeing one should be a cause for real celebration – they are rare and elusive creatures.”

Ed Parr Ferris continued:

“As with many predators, greater horseshoe numbers have shrunk sharply over recent decades, but where they survive it means the landscape is in good shape and able to support them. Having greater horseshoes in Devon is something we should all be proud of. That’s why we’re holding a festival. In part it’s an expression of local pride that these bats are still here.  I’d urge people to attend one of events during this festival and find out what they can do to help keep this amazing species alive and well locally.”

Amongst the festival’s many activities Ed and his team will be asking people to take part in surveys which will search for the bats as they fly around the Devon landscape. Volunteers will use special bat-detecting equipment issued by the project.

Ed Parr Ferris said:

“There are many gaps in our understanding of greater horseshoe bats, including simply where they are – being night-time flyers they are not easy to see! That’s why we need the public’s help with our surveys.”

The project is encouraging anyone in Devon to borrow a bat detector from local host centres and help to collect precious information on the bats. To take part in a survey, book a detector and find out more about the project people are being urged to get in touch either at one of the bat festival’s events or via the project’s website.

The festival’s full programme of events, together with booking details, is available from the project’s website www.devonbatproject.org<http://www.devonbatproject.org

Greater Horseshoe Bat - Photo copyright Phil Richardson (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.