A new educational film project inspired by a major environmental scheme is under way.
The Galloway Glens and the National Trust for Scotland have joined forces with award winning ecological film-maker and artist John Wallace to document the Threave Landscape Restoration Project.
The scheme aims to rebalance the ecology of the site by opening up biodiversity corridors, allowing the river to flood the landscape.
A small heard of cattle are travelling the site with fences removed.
NTS’ David Thompson, Galloway Glens’ Jan Hogarth and John saw the chance for a film about the project to educate people of all ages about innovative biodiversity and habitat creation.
John will create five short films which will link to learning materials and the Curriculum for Excellence for Science and Education for Sustainability.
These will be rolled out across Dumfries and Galloway and all of Scotland. This isn’t John’s first project at Threave as he recently worked on a year-long art and film residency looking at the ospreys and the fragile ecosystem they inhabit.
John said: “It’s fantastic to be invited back to work again at Threave’s Kelton Mains Nature Reserve.
“More than anything I’m looking forward to exploring some of the areas of the site that are maybe not quite so obvious or attractive at first glance and to help people understand how each has their role to play in the health and diversity of the ecosystems here – and of the wider environment that we all share.
“The aim is to help people connect what’s going on in nature to what’s going on in their own school yard, local park or back garden – an exciting prospect for any artist.”
David Thompson from NTS said: “It is absolutely amazing to be working with John Wallace again on this innovative partnership educational film project with Jan.
“It is great to be using the Threave Landscape Restoration Project for education as we can link the five films together to inspire and connect young people to nature.”
Galloway Glens education officer Jan Hogarth added: “Knowing the site and its community as he does, John is deeply invested in the landscape here and creates work which is beautiful, emotive, and ecologically insightful.
“It gives me a strong sense of pride that Galloway is leading the way in landscape restoration and in art-led science learning.”
