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‘Farming on the Edge’ wins best documentary

Farming on the Edge wins film award

We are pleased to announce that ‘Farming on the Edge’ has won the best documentary award at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival. This short film was produced by the North Pennines National Landscape team in partnership with Film on the Brain.

‘Farming on the Edge’ follows Paul and Jen Johnson, Raby Estate tenants, for a year on their farm in Upper Teesdale in the North Pennines, and explores their life farming with nature in this remarkable landscape. This powerful film highlights the value of nature-friendly farming methods and how this approach encourages wildlife to flourish.

Paul Johnson, said, “I wanted to make this film to show that you can farm alongside nature and that nature and farming can complement each other.”

Chris Woodley-Stewart, Director, North Pennines National Landscape said, “We would like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting this work, as part of our ‘Tees-Swale: naturally connected’ programme. This wonderful film is an insight into the reality of farming in the North Pennines and the daily challenges farmers face in what can be a harsh place to work on the land, especially in winter. Through Tees-Swale we’re working to share farmers’ voices and show how they are at the forefront of nature recovery and Paul is as natural and authentic on camera sharing his experiences as he is in ‘real life.’ The team has really enjoyed bringing him and Jen to this project, and we’ve also been lucky to have the opportunity to commission and support an outstanding filmmaker in Matthew Wood.”

Filmmaker, Matthew Wood, from Film on the Brain, said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Paul exploring his connection with the land and the importance of traditional farming. I’ve enjoyed capturing his story through his own words and experiences and I’m so pleased that Farming on the Edge has been recognised as best documentary at the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival”.

This was the tenth year of the Sunderland Shorts Film Festival and over 1,100 films were submitted with 160 films being shown.

Farming on the Edge will be shown at preview screenings across the North Pennines later this year.

ENDS

Notes for editors

For alternative images please contact the communications team on communications@northpennines.org.uk

‘Farming on the Edge’ was produced by the North Pennines National Landscape team, as part of the Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme. The Tees-Swale: naturally connected programme is led by the North Pennines National Landscape team in partnership with Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund using money raised by National Lottery players.

The film reflects the work done by the North Pennines National Landscape team, through the Tees-Swale programme, working in partnership with farmers to restore, connect and expand habitats across the upland farms of Teesdale and Swaledale.

Tees-Swale: naturally connected – The North Pennines National Landscape team and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority are working with partner organisations to deliver a major natural heritage programme that focuses on the landscape and communities of Upper Teesdale and Swaledale. Tees-Swale: naturally connected covers 845 square kilometres of Teesdale in the North Pennines National Landscape and Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Inspired by the report ‘Making Space for Nature’, the programme aims to restore, expand, and connect habitats across the uplands of Teesdale and Swaledale, showcasing how public funds can enhance wildlife and deliver multiple public benefits. The ethos of the programme is to work closely and in partnership with farmers, landowners and conservation agencies from the outset. In so doing, we will build the relationships and establish the skills required to sustain our High Nature Value farming systems.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk

The North Pennines National Landscape is one of England’s most special places – a peaceful, unspoilt landscape with a rich history and vibrant natural beauty. It was designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1988. The purpose of this nationally recognised designation is the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty of the area.

At almost 2,000 sq. kilometres the North Pennines is the second largest of the 46 National Landscapes (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and is one of the most peaceful and unspoilt places in England. Visit www.landscapesforlife.org.uk for information about the National Landscapes family. .

The North Pennines lies between the National Parks of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and Northumberland with the urban centres of County Durham away to the east. Parts of the National Landscape are within the boundaries of four local authorities; Cumberland Council, Durham County Council, Northumberland County Council, and Westmorland & Furness Council.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of 15 National Parks in the UK. It is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which has two main purposes: “to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage” and “to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park”. In carrying out these
purposes, the Authority has a duty “to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities”. The National Park Authority comprises 25 members, made up of county and district councillors and members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment to represent parishes or in recognition of their specialist skills or knowledge.

The North Pennines National Landscape Partnership is an alliance of public, statutory and voluntary sector bodies with an interest in the future of the North Pennines. The work of the Partnership is carried out by the National Landscape team which takes action to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area, to raise awareness of its special qualities and to improve the quality of life for local people.

UNESCO Global Geopark – As well as being a National Landscape, the North Pennines is a UNESCO Global Geopark. This puts the area’s Geopark status in the same UNESCO family as World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO Global Geoparks are places with outstanding geology where special effort is made to make the most of geological heritage to support community and economy. Locally this includes producing geo-trails, developing projects with school and community groups, producing displays for visitor attractions and holding geology festivals and events.

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