Young group’s video success

7:57pm Wednesday 26th March 2008

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A GREEN-fingered group of youngsters from Norton and Malton have made a video highlighting concerns over climate change which is to be shown at an international conference.

The Norton Wildlife Watch project was first set up 20 years ago by Sue Holmes, of Malton, who wanted to encourage children in the area to take an active interest in the environment.

The group met fortnightly to take part in environmental community projects in the area.

After the floods in 2000, Mrs Holmes encouraged the 25 children in her group to make environmental films about the effects of the flooding and climate change. The youngsters, aged between six and 14, have now finished their third film, which will be shown at an environment conference in Norway in July.

Mrs Holmes said the volunteering project helps the children realise and experience the impact on the environment of climate change.

She said: "The children first made an environmental film following the floods in 2000.

"They took it upon themselves to speak to Ryedale residents and ask them how the floods had affected them and they filmed footage of the river and the damage caused by flooding.

"Eight years on they have just finished their third film, which shows how climate change is ever affecting local areas. These children, some who are as young as six, have filmed, edited and directed these videos themselves.

"They wanted to express the impact climate change is having locally."

Norton Wildlife Watch will also show its film at Malton Cinema on April 20 - the group's 20th anniversary.

"It will be a private screening for family and friends to show them what the children have achieved," said Mrs Holmes.

"It will be a great way of celebrating the milestone of the group as well as celebrating the children's hard work. After this we will take the film to the environmental conference in Norway, which will enable the children to see the changes that are happening in Malton in a much more global context.

"The children are very excited in showing off their filmmaking project and they are looking forward to seeing other environmental films which will be broadcast at the event."

Local charity the Local Network Fund, part of the York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation, has helped sponsor the group for the past six years, with grants totalling £7,000.

Jan Norton, grants manager, said the charity was "very impressed" with the children's filmmaking project.

She said: "It is amazing to learn of the continued success of Norton Wildlife Watch. The group has gone from strength to strength since it received their first Local Network Fund grant from us. To learn that the group is now poised to take its message to an international stage is extremely impressive."