Northumberland Wildlife Trust has launched two captivating short films that document the progress of its ambitious Biodiversity Boost Project, offering nature enthusiasts an immersive look into conservation efforts across key reserves. The £750,000 initiative, funded by a grant from the Species Survival Fund in partnership with Defra and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has been enhancing habitats at Hauxley, East Chevington, and West Chevington reserves over the past 18 months.
Exploring West Chevington Reserve
The first film provides a comprehensive overview of the West Chevington reserve, which stands as one of the Trust's most significant lowland recovery sites in northern England. This former opencast mine site, now transformed into a diverse landscape of conifers, mixed woodland, grassland, and arable land, plays a crucial role in the Trust's broader strategy to combat climate change. The footage highlights how this restoration project contributes to ecological resilience and biodiversity.
Focus on Grazing Initiatives
Grazing takes centre stage in the second film, which traces the historical context of grazing across the natural Druridge Bay landscape before delving into contemporary conservation projects. Viewers are treated to charming scenes of goats grazing on the East Chevington reserve, where their activity helps improve the landscape for rare flowers such as lesser butterfly orchids. The film also features an interview with Stephen Comber, the Flexigraze manager, and showcases Exmoor ponies and Highland cows at work in creating a wildflower meadow at Hauxley nature reserve.
Collaborative Production Effort
Helen Walsh, Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Biodiversity Boost Officer, emphasised the collaborative nature of the project. "The project team worked with Collingwood Arts and Media College to produce a series of short films for the Biodiversity Boost project," she said. "Looking back through all the footage we've collected over the last 20 months, we can really appreciate the changes that have been made and the work that has gone into delivering this project. We hope that people take some time to enjoy our short little films."
Both films were produced by Brian Cosgrove and his team from Collingwood Arts and Media College in Morpeth, in collaboration with Helen Walsh. They are available for viewing on YouTube, with additional content accessible on the Trust's dedicated Biodiversity Boost website page. These visual stories not only celebrate the achievements of the project but also aim to inspire greater public engagement with wildlife conservation efforts in Northumberland.
