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Filming Captures Flintshire’s Coastal Wildlife and Community 

Published: 10/08/2023

Funding from the Welsh Government Coastal Capacity Fund, awarded by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) has enabled community groups and local organisations to be part of a series of films coordinated by Flintshire County Council (FCC). 

There are 10 films in total covering a range of topics: Regeneration; Eat Well Cookery (using shrimp from the Estuary); Eat Well Roundtable Discussion (local sustainable food); Innovation (including the new solar project); Activity and Volunteering; Short Supply Chains; Using the Dee; Well Fed (local food partnership project); Wildlife; and History.  All 10 films are available to view on the FCC YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/@flintshirecc

People are encouraged to view the films to learn more about the Dee Estuary and Connah’s Quay Docks.

The funding made available via the Local Nature Partnership, also highlights the importance of sustainable fishing, and Natural Resources Wales and RNLI Flint also feature in the films, outlining their role, and the importance of protecting, and using the Dee Estuary safely.

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Economy, Councillor David Healey said:

“It’s wonderful to see these films capture and tell the story of the positive things happening around the rich habitat of the River Dee at Connah’s Quay Docks.  From heavy industry, we are shifting to clean energy and new technology, and it’s great to see the solar project and a local high-tech precision engineering business featured in these films.  It also highlights how important it is to protect this important habitat, and the diversity of wildlife there.”

Whilst Connah’s Quay has a large population, previous consultations have shown that not everyone in the local community has a tangible ‘connection’ to the Coastline there, and the funding is seen as an essential ‘first step’ towards raising awareness, and encouraging people to visit, to walk, cycle, and visit the local cafes, and be more physically active, and will complement the work to develop a Flintshire Coast Park.

‘RainbowBiz CiC’ a local social enterprise has a ‘Walking for Wellbeing’ group for local people who were excited to feature on film.  The group meets regularly and walks along Connah’s Quay Docks, and enjoyed a guided walk by Adrian Hibbert, Rights of Way Inspector for Flintshire, as part of the ‘Year of Trails in Wales.’  They also learned about how to record wildlife sightings online using the COFNOD website, with a demonstration by COFNOD Recording Specialist Richard Gallon.   

Ian Forrester Director / Project Facilitator of RainbowBiz CIC said:

“It was great to learn about how to snap and record sightings, as it’s a fun thing to do on a walk and helps our group to learn more about the wildlife around the Estuary.  It’s also great for wellbeing, as it’s something that makes you slow down and take notice of your natural world.  We’re looking forward to doing this more on our regular walks.”

Nia Griffith of ‘Menter a Busnes’ Seafood Cluster features in another film. Nia said:

“People who live in this locality are lucky to have so many local fishermen that adopt sustainable methods of catching fresh seafood on their doorstep, which is available to buy within hours of being caught. The Seafood Cluster supports the development of the Welsh Seafood industry and can help to support similar projects through the collaboration of fishers, processors and others within the Welsh Seafood supply chain to bring fresh seafood to the plates of more local people.”

Dawn Beech, Senior Advisor (Dee Conservancy Officer) at Natural Resources Wales, said: 

“The Dee Estuary is a complex and diverse place with a wonderful natural and human history. My role has a keen focus on both protecting and helping the Dee Estuary thrive.  Through my work, I’ve come to appreciate how the estuary offers valuable opportunities for employment, education and wellbeing, whilst also offering a range of crucial habitats for nature”. 

We all have a responsibility to make sure that our children and future generations have the same opportunities and this film by the Flintshire County Council Regeneration Team certainly portrays the Dee Estuary’s importance in helping us achieve this.”

For more information on FCC’s Countryside and Coast Service, visit: https://www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/LeisureAndTourism/Countryside-and-Coast/Home.aspx

Background resources:

https://www.gov.wales/visit-wales-announces-llwybrauwales-trails-which-trail-will-you-choose-2023#:~:text=Launching%20the%20Year%20of%20Trails,%2C%20activities%2C%20landscapes%20and%20coastlines.

https://www.cofnod.org.uk/Recording 

https://www.cancook.co.uk/