An animated film produced by Cumbrian organisations has been shortlisted for a prestigious global award.
Wood You Believe It illustrates how practical measures can protect homes, farms, and businesses while supporting biodiversity. Narrated by charismatic Twiggy the Red Squirrel, it take viewers on an educational journey through the methods and benefits of trees for helping to reduce flooding.
Created by Cumbria Innovative Flood Resilience Project and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, the film has been officially selected for competition at one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious animated film festivals – Annecy Animation Film Festival, this week.
Annabel Rushton, of the RSPB at Wild Haweswater, voiced Twiggy the Red Squirrel.
She said: “It’s absolutely incredible. Annecy is basically the Cannes of the animation world, so is super prestigious.
“Thousands of films from around the world applied and Twiggy’s film was selected as part of the final 35 in her category, so we’re really proud.”
Wood You Believe It was part of a series of four films launched late last year of Creature Comforts-style animations that showcase how natural flood management (NFM) can help protect communities from flooding, enhance biodiversity, and combat climate change.
They were developed in collaboration with the Environment Agency, RSPB, National Farmers Union, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the National Trust, and funded by the Environment Agency.
You can view Twiggy’s film ‘Wood You Believe It’ and the other three new films in the series here, alongside the original award-winning animations: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/fighting-climate-crisis/combating-effects/slow-the-flow
