Produced by Shell Video Productions as part of the Shell Better Britain Campaign a film about the work undertake by local residents of Benwell in Newcastle to build and develop the Benwell Nature Park on the site of former slum housing. Title: Benwell From an overhead position the River Tyne below with rows of terraced housing on the Newcastle side of the river and a power station on the Gateshead side. In the distance a coal mine changing to terraced street in Benwell in the West End of...

Produced by Shell Video Productions as part of the Shell Better Britain Campaign a film about the work undertake by local residents of Benwell in Newcastle to build and develop the Benwell Nature Park on the site of former slum housing. Title: Benwell From an overhead position the River Tyne below with rows of terraced housing on the Newcastle side of the river and a power station on the Gateshead side. In the distance a coal mine changing to terraced street in Benwell in the West End of Newcastle and a large pond which forms part of the recently completed Benwell Nature Park. A double-decker bus travels along Buddle Road changing to a phantom car ride along the same road passing the Benwell Nature Park. The bus turns northward along the B1305 driving alongside the park. Two Blackhead gulls’ bath in the waters of the pond and a flock of House sparrows come into land on a recently finished fence. In a classroom a small girl reads from a reports she has written pinned to a display board describing the work she has done to help develop the park. Outside Jim Grant, a teacher at nearby St John’s Primary School, explains why he is happy that the nature park has been developed and how it will help his students. As he talks about the areas before the park 8mm footage he shot of children watching demolition work going on in the area. He hopes that as the children contributed towards the development of the park that they will see it as being theirs. In a classroom a small girl is asked about the park and a certificate that she has been given, as she speaks a group from the school go for a nature walk around the park. Outside interview with Jeremy Beecham, Leader of Newcastle City Council about why he become a support of this project and how the land couldn’t be built upon due to the underground mine workings. In a classroom children measuring potted plants with rulers. Back at the nature park interview with Ian McCalman, Housing Action Officer for Newcastle City Council who talks about the eight slum clearances which formed the nature park. In a nearby street a local man is critical of the time and money being spent on the park, Ian McCalman counters his criticism by explaining about the importance of community involvement in such projects. Another vox-pop with several residents some who are in favour of the project, others who are not. Joan MacCarthy, Teacher in Charge at Benwell Nature Park leads a group of school children around the site. She explains that over the next few years she will be developing education facilities on the site for children and adults of all ages. A bus passes along a road outside the park, inside a sign giving details of the plants that are currently growing along ‘Woodland Edge’. Joan MacCarthy provides more details of what she hopes to see at the park and what can be gained by all users of the park and surrounding community. A group of school children work together to measure some of the saplings and shrubs growing in the park and writing the results on clipboards. Inside the prefab classroom on site Jo Jones, who is a Field Officer, talks about the Nature Club who members are sitting around her with the children currently taking part in a sponsored silence to raise money to buy binoculars for the clubs. Around the room some of those taking part hold up signs. Outside John Illes, Director of North, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) explains that the work here in Benwell is an extension of the work his organisation has being doing in South Yorkshire to let local people care for their own environment. Standing beside him is Celia Spouncer, Urban Field Officer for BTCV who explains that it is her job to provide the practical skills the young people will need to know. John continues to say that he hopes that local people will see the park as part of their own community which will develop slowly and gradually over many years. A second vox pop with members of the local community who are all supportive of the project and what it can bring to the area. Back on-site children work together to construct flower beds, some digging a trench with spades. Matthew Hawking, another Field Officer supervises the work and explains what is going on. He helps two boys push a wheelbarrow of subsoil away. Matthew sits beside his co-worker Jo Jones as they talk about the practical work they both do on the site with children. A school group walks around the edge of the pond followed by a local cat. They look at the water and make notes onto clipboards. Another local man is interviewed and is very positive about the work being done at the park. Matthew and Jo end by saying that this is just the beginning which is followed by views of the park and some of the plants growing there. Title: Made with the help of the Benwell Nature Park Team, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the people of Benwell Newcastle-upon-Tyne Credit: A Shell Video Production for the Shell Better Britain Campaign Title: The Shell Better Britain Campaign Title: This is a partnership between The Nature Conservancy Council, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, Civic Trust, Shell U.K. Limited End title: © 1983 Shell