New films showcasing conservation of South West landscapes
The films highlight the fragile nature on and around protected sites and how we can all take steps to help our environment
A brand-new set of films are showcasing the landscapes of the South West - and the conservation efforts to keep them pristine.
It's been co-funded by Natural England with resource contributions from the NERC funded RENEW project led by the University of Exeter and National Trust, and will be highlighting the fragile nature on and around protected sites and how we can all take steps to help our environment.
They've all been filmed by Plymouth-based Simon Willis Films and featuring poet, John Wedgwood Clarke.
Taking in protected sites across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, the films, called “Wild Westcountry Odyssey” are a result of a collaboration between Natural England’s Protected Site Strategies (PSS) Research and Development Programme and the RENEW Biodiversity project at the University of Exeter.
The aim is to ensure the root causes of environmental issues are addressed in ways that guarantee wildlife thrives on those sites, while helping nature recovery beyond their boundaries.
All six of the Protected Sites chosen for the films are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Habitat Sites.
David Burton, Natural England’s Principal Officer for the Protected Site Strategies Implementation and Development programme, said: “We supported the production of the films to research how creative media can help re-set the relationships between people and nature within the framework of Protected Site Strategies. The approach is to educate and highlight the need for nature recovery to everyone.
“Too often the environment sector has failed to communicate the plight of biodiversity in accessible, positive and thought-provoking ways. For Protected Site Strategies to realise the ambition we have set for them, resetting the relationships between nature and people in ways that build a resilient future for all, we need to harness the power of creative channels for our call to action. John, Simon, and the rest of the ‘Wild Westcountry Odyssey’ team have created inspirational stories through film and poetry to help set our first few Protected Site Strategies on their way.”
'A privilege'
Simon Willis, filmmaker, said: “It’s been a privilege to work with all the nature reserves and John. The human effort that goes into keeping them thriving for wildlife is remarkable.
"I hope our images and John’s words encourage people to look beyond the picture postcard and really value the wildlife that makes the South West such a great place to visit.”
'Source of great joy'
John Wedgwood Clarke, Professor of Poetry at the University of Exeter, said: “The South West’s diverse and beautiful landscapes have been the source of great joy for so many people and have inspired writers and artists over time. But take a closer look and you realise how fragile many of our ecosystems have become and the lengths to which our agencies and charities have to go in order to conserve their biodiversity.
“I hope these films, and the visual and verbal poetry they contain, inspire people to explore this beautiful part of the world and think about how they can support, in whatever way they can, the work the goes in to helping people and nature thrive together in these special places.”
'By creating these films we aim to bring the beauty of these six south-west locations into their homes'
Professor Rosie Hails, Director of Nature and Science at the National Trust said: “We know that for people to protect nature and our fragile ecosystems, they have to care for it first. By using poetry and creating these films we aim to bring the beauty of these six south-west locations into their homes and onto their mobile devices, and to inspire them to visit and to help look after these special places.
“Kynance on the Lizard Peninsula is one of our richest sites for rare and threatened species. The unique geology of granite cliffs with serpentine rocky exposures supports some of our most notable species such as land quilwort, pygmy rush and upright clover amongst the swathes of Cornish heath that make the site a National Nature Reserve.
“As part of the Trust’s new strategy we will be targeting the rejuvenation of these important plant varieties through innovative management techniques to ensure the special species thrive into the future.”
The first of the films, which features Kynance on The Lizard, is on YouTube, and others will be released weekly through to 21 July.
The rest will be:
- Kynance on the Lizard, Cornwall, 16 June
- Goonhilly Downs National Nature Reserve, Cornwall, 23 June
- Challacombe Farm, Dartmoor, 30 June
- Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve, Somerset, 7 July
- Exe Estuary, Devon, 14 July
- Otter Estuary, Devon, 21 July