Fugolburna Film Project by Fulbourn Forum
Over the past several years concern has continued to grow about the condition of the Cam valley springs, streams and rivers. The development of the Greater Cambridge area over many decades has resulted in increased abstraction of water from the chalk aquifers causing springs to dry, either totally or intermittently, and streams and rivers to have greatly reduced flows or, in some cases, to dry completely. This has had, of course, a significant impact on the natural environment and biodiversity.
Fulbourn has not been immune from these impacts, and Fulbourn Forum, together with others such as the Wilbraham River Protection Society, the Wildlife Trust, and Cam Valley Forum, has been observing and monitoring the condition of our springs and watercourses for some time. We are keen that the Fulbourn and Wilbraham catchment area is not forgotten when proposals for nature recovery are under consideration by the authorities, water companies, and various environmental campaign organisations.
In 2019, I saw the documentary Waterlight: portrait of a chalk stream, about the River Mel which rises in Melbourn, and had thought that it would be good to record the Fulbourn streams and watercourses to alert people to the crisis they are in. Then, during the wet winter of 2020/21, the water table rose and the springs at Fulbourn and Wilbraham started running again after a period of inactivity. I saw the opportunity of filming our chalk streams to show the effect that flowing, clean water has on the environment and to contrast that with the inevitable drying of the watercourses, both in summer and even in winter
I contacted Nigel Kinnings, who helped film and produce Waterlight, and he was able to begin some initial filming almost immediately. While this was underway, together we sketched out a plan for a documentary with ideas of what might be shown and people we could interview to comment on or explain the issues that the film would explore. With his background at BBC Bristol and experience working as a professional cinematographer, Nigel was able to help develop the film’s format, and we continued to film through the seasons to tell the story of our local natural environment and the importance of water. The documentary’s title, Fugolburna: stream frequented by birds, was chosen early on to reference the Anglo Saxon name for Fulbourn which is indicative of a fen-edge, watery location.
Many hours of filming have been skilfully edited by Tim Lloyd-Kinnings to tell that story. The documentary shows how people are working to help improve nature locally, looks back at the changes that have resulted in the loss of water and biodiversity, explores the issue of over-abstraction of water from the chalk aquifer, and the attempts to compensate for this loss by a pumped water augmentation scheme by the Environment Agency, of which Fulbourn and Wilbraham are just part of a wider project covering the Cam, Rhee and Granta catchments. Interviews with local people and experts provide a better understanding of the issues and the factors that impact on them. The documentary has also provided an opportunity to celebrate in film our beautiful Fulbourn Fen Nature Reserve and other parts of the river catchment area, while also highlighting people’s enjoyment of it.
The film is, on one level, a campaigning one, but it also aims to inform and to entertain, including footage of associated community activities such as the Swift Group, nature reserve work parties, and litter picks. But, primarily, I hope that it will inspire motivation and action to maintain, restore, and improve Fulbourn’s aquatic and wider natural environment, bringing them to a healthier and more sustainable state. My thanks go to all those who willingly gave their time and support in the making of the film, to Nigel for his dedication to the project, to Christine Lloyd-Fitt for her invaluable help with the production, and to the Wright’s Clock Land CIO and the Wadlow Wind Farm Community Fund for their financial contributions.
The film’s premiere takes place on 10 May after the Fulbourn Forum AGM. As space is limited, it is necessary to book free tickets online – please see the poster in this issue. You may come for the film only if you do not wish to attend the short AGM. For those who cannot make this date, we hope that further screenings can be arranged if wished.
David Cottee
Fulbourn Forum
April 2024
Fulbourn Forum 