Video: Amateur film-makers shine spotlight on Burnley's rivers (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Video: Amateur film-makers shine spotlight on Burnley's rivers

6:00pm Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Peter Magill, Chief reporter

A CAST of hundreds has helped to turn the spotlight on Burnley’s resurgent rivers for a mini-movie by amateur film makers.

Volunteers across the town have been helping to make a difference to the Calder and Brun as part of the Burnley Urban River Enhancement Scheme (URES).

One day soon, the Ribble Rivers Trust hopes to see salmon, trout, kingfishers, eels, water voles and otters flourishing in local waterways.

And Burnley Film Makers has produced a seven-minute clip detailing the various efforts made to clear riverbanks and create fish passes and pools to encourage the return of wildlife.

Jack Spees, trust director, said: “The aim of URES is to inspire people to take ownership of our rivers, helping to reduce litter and pollution and encourage others to take pride in what we have.

“Burnley has an incredible heritage both industrially and naturally due to the rivers Brun and Calder, which is why we must preserve this heritage for future generations.”

The scheme received £81,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to explore ways of revitalising the two rivers, from which Burnley received its name.

In the film there are interviews with Keith Wilson, council forestry officers, explaining about the environmental significance of the waterways.

And footage of volunteers from Red Rose Recovery, an initiative offering former drug users the chance to complete community work, is included.

The video has been published online at ures-burnley.org.uk

Work has already been carried out on fish passes, where the Calder and Brun meet off Active Way, to enable fish to travel upstream. Individuals and groups can volunteer to get involved with URES by e-mailing Victoria Dewhurst at the trust on vic@ribbletrust.com

Comments are closed on this article.