Young Filmmakers Focus on Nature at This Weekend’s New Immerse Festival

Sep 17, 2024

Young Filmmakers Focus on Nature at This Weekend’s New Immerse Festival
  • Get involved in a UK-wide citizen science water testing initiative
  • Reconnect with southern Scotland’s waterways and wildlife
  • Find out about everything from golden eagles to moths and fish

Young filmmakers will be the focus of a special screening taking place as part of this weekend’s first ever ImMerse festival in Annan.

There will also be a host of other entertainments and activities.

ImMerse is for all ages, with a special emphasis on young people, including the chance to help test water quality in the River Annan as part of a UK-wide citizen science initiative. 

The films being shown are Why Not Scotland? an inspiring movie about nature restoration and In Nature, a five-minute short which has been created by seven young Scots and Ukrainians from Annan.

The film, made under the guidance of documentary filmmaker John Wallace, captures their connection to the natural world. 

Set against the Port Street, Annan Harbour, and Annan Water, it reflects their early memories of nature and how these experiences shape their emotions and perspectives.

The young people involved were Callum McDougall, Pavlo Novikov, Anastasiia Kvitko, Shaima Sheikh, Yehor Fokin, Yuliia Yashkina and Anna Romanyuk. Social media for the project was done by another young person, Veronika Yashkina.

Yuliia said: “Making In Nature really showed me a new way we can help make the world better. By supporting nature, we can preserve the beauty and diversity of our planet. It was great fun talking and filming with everyone about nature.”

Anna, Yuliia, and Anastasiia will be taking part in a panel discussion after their film is screened.

ImMerse will be a fun-filled chance to discover and celebrate the amazing saltmarshes – and wider natural environment.

It’s all happening on 22 September, from 10am, at Annan Harbour and in the surrounding merse (saltmarshes) and river.

Olena Kadochnikova-Yashkina, Education Officer with the Annan Harbour Action Group, will show young people how to test and monitor the health of the Annan river. 

This involves taking samples to see if there is a healthy population of invertebrates (animals without spines).

Olena said: “This is really important work and we’d love young people to get involved.

“Looking at invertebrates gives us a better understanding of the ecosystem so we can detect any early changes that might affect the river’s health.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to observe the testing process, discover the creatures living in the river, and contribute to our ongoing efforts to protect our river.”

The testing is part of Earthwatch Europe’s Great UK WaterBlitz – which will see people across the country going out and measure the water quality of their local rivers, streams and lakes.

ImMerse is organised by SCAMP (Solway Coast and Marine Project) which is funded by Dumfries & Galloway Council, Annan Harbour Action Group and the D&G Climate Hub.

Council Leader, Councillor Gail Macgregor, said: ““ImMerse is a wonderful way to discover and help protect and restore the beautiful environment around Annan’s river and coast and the biodiversity across southern Scotland and the Solway.

“It’s a chance to enjoy a visit to Annan’s river, harbour and merse, and find out about the inspiring work by nature based organisations across the south of Scotland including the council’s ambitious coastal and marine restoration project, SCAMP.

“It’s also a super opportunity to see In Nature, the new film made by talented local young people who care deeply about their local environment.”

ImMerse activities will include:

  • Saltmarsh Science with a freelance ranger and saltmarsh expert  
  • Up the Creek, walks with Galloway Fisheries Trust
  • Wood etching with D&G Woodlands
  • Moth ID with SWSEIC (South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre)
  • Birds on the Solway with RSPB
  • South of Scotland’s Golden Eagle Project
  • Learn about Wild Woods from Borders Forest Trust
  • Get into Soil with Propagate
  • Woodcraft with Southern Upland Way ranger.

The festival hub will be a marquee at the harbour.

The films will be shown from 6pm-8pm at Lonsdale Cinema, Moat Road, Annan.

It was created as part of a leadership programme launched this summer by The Annan Harbour Action Group.

The programme focuses on increasing the number volunteers and developing new skills among young people. 

The movie project was funded by the Coastal Benefit Fund, Holywood Trust, and D&G Climate Hub.

  • There will be a bat box making workshop and evening Bat Walk with Species on the Edge on Saturday 21 September.

-Ends-

Note to Editors

  • The Festival is supported by SCAMP Community engagement funding from the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS 2), which provided grants to organisations and partnerships to help develop a viable business case and financial model, to attract investment in projects that can restore and improve the natural environment.
  • FIRNS 2 is delivered by NatureScot in collaboration with The Scottish Government and in partnership with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. 

Events are free please see below:

About SCAMP

The Solway Coast and Marine Project (SCAMP) is led by Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Solway Firth Partnership, and follows on from one of the Borderlands’ natural capital pilot projects.

SCAMP is an ambitious project that seeks to restore the coastal and shallow sea habitats of the Solway, covering the entire 210km of the Dumfries and Galloway Coastline. Our aim is to increase biodiversity, sequester carbon where possible and support our coastal and marine habitats to adapt to the effects of climate change. In addition, and essential for the project we will be helping our coastal communities to adapt and be more resilient to predicted sea level rise. 

It is addressing five key habitats, maritime/coastal woodland, sand dunes, salt marsh, sea grass meadows and oyster reefs. As part of the delivery of the project we will be able to help inform and develop the blue carbon private capital markets.  In addition to this it will ensure that our coastal communities derive economic, wellbeing benefits from the work we do. It expects the delivery of SCAMP to be over a 10-year period and cost approximately £20 million from a blend of public sector, third sector and private sector sources.

It seeks to explore community-driven initiatives to enhance and restore biodiversity both underwater and along the coast –benefiting people, nature, and the planet.

About DG Climate Hub

The D&G Climate Hub is part of the Scottish Government’s new national network of Community Climate Action Hubs. Climate Hubs are committed to supporting community climate action on a regional basis through funding and resources embedded in our local communities.

It is run by the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. 

About Annan Harbour Action Group

Annan Harbour Action Group was set up to develop Annan harbour and surrounding area as a community asset; promote water-based and shore-based activities linked to the maritime environment and acquire and regenerate historic buildings and land bringing these into purposeful use for the benefit of all. Education and citizen science is embedded into the work of the group.

About World Rivers Day

World Rivers Day is a celebration of the world’s waterways and highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness and encourages the improved stewardship of rivers around the world.

For more see World Rivers Day – Millions of people in more than 100 countries participate in World Rivers Day

Earthwatch Europe’s Great UK WaterBlitz 

People across the UK are invited to help measure the water quality of their local rivers and streams. 

Data scientists use the results to build a snapshot of our freshwater systems

Results from the first Great UK WaterBlitz , 7-10 June 2024, saw over 2,600 people across the UK measure the water quality of their local rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. 75% of data points across the UK showed poor ecological health with significant regional variation.

  • The Anglian and Thames regions have the worst water quality with up to 89% of data points showing poor ecological health.
  • The Solway Tweed area in the North West showed the best health with only 50% of data points showing unacceptable levels of nutrient pollution.
  • See earthwatch.org.uk. Great UK WaterBlitz – Earthwatch

For media information contact Matthew Shelley on 07786 704299 or at [email protected]