Their brief was to observe the area as photographers and record contrasting examples: beautiful and ugly, boring and interesting. The use of digital cameras had the advantage of allowing many images to be recorded - and the disadvantage that this huge number of images resulted in a lengthy period being required to collate and record the results.
During August, September and October a DVD was prepared that managed to incorporate work from every person who took part in the workshops. On November 7th, the DVD was shown on a large screen at the CLC at Acklam Grange to the schoolchildren who took part and on the 12th November to the Community Council. A number of prints have also been produced of particularly outstanding shots taken during the sessions and these allowed us to display exhibition boards during the showing of the DVD.
The response of the children who took part and of the staff who accompanied them, was enthusiastic.
One of our hopes is that the schools will be able to use copies of the DVD as reinforcement to lessons dealing with the 'citizenship' part of the curriculum. Another other is that the activity would provide a nucleation for growing enthusiasm within the school for environmental improvements. We have had a positive response from Hall Garth School and as a follow up we have committed £ 500 to fund a workshop of wildflower planting with the school and Wildflower Ark.
We have opened discussions with the two primary schools in the area (Newham Bridge and Green Lane) with a view to similar horticultural projects and we shall be renewing discussions with the other two secondary schools in the near future.
December 8th 2002