A documentary made for a deaf audience about the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre Washington, now the Washington Wetland Centre, directed Catya Neilson and produced in collaboration with other deaf students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC). The film explores this unusual wetland reserve built in the middle of an industrial area and the many exotic birds that call the reserve their home. Presenter Wayne Adams, along with sign language interpreter Annie Brotherton, ask questions both...

A documentary made for a deaf audience about the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre Washington, now the Washington Wetland Centre, directed Catya Neilson and produced in collaboration with other deaf students of the North East Media Training Centre (NEMTC). The film explores this unusual wetland reserve built in the middle of an industrial area and the many exotic birds that call the reserve their home. Presenter Wayne Adams, along with sign language interpreter Annie Brotherton, ask questions both those who work at the park about the work they do as well as visitors to the reserve about what attracted them to come. Over the opening credit the shimmering water in one of the lakes at the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre Washington. Title: Wildlife in the North East Standing on a nearby bank several pink Chilean flamingos preening. Two women arrive at the centre heading into the reception area passing a large carved plaque reading ‘The Peter Scott Centre’. Nearby a sculpture of Sir Peter Markham Scott, the founder of the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT) of which the centre at Washington is a part. Various exotic bird on one of the lakes near the visitor’s centre change to presenter Wayne Adams introduced the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre. He turns and on the grass in front of him where a selection of birds wonders around. Sitting around a table inside the visitors centre a meeting featuring Promotions Officer Yvonne Irving. Standing in front of one of the centres large observational windows she provides details on the origins of the centre and what it is for. Standing beside her Interpreter Annie Brotherton translates for Yvonne as well as many of the people featured in this film. A montage of various exotic birds at the centre both on land and in the water including more of the Chilean flamingos. Wayne walks along a small woodland path before turning to the camera and provides details on the specially planted trees around him which have been developed for the centre. He arrives at a bird or wildlife hide in the Hawthorne areas of the park. Inside he looks out on tables nearby where Robins, Tits and other garden birds are feeding. Lee Harris a volunteer at the centre walks past the hide hanging up more feeder in a nearby tree. Outside Wayne speaks with him about the work he does at the centre. As Lee continues to put up bird feeders, back in the visitor’s centre Yvonne Irving talks about the importance of volunteers for the centre and the kind of people who do it. Two men work to feed the many birds congregating around the lake in front of the visitor’s centre. With a large sack in a wheelbarrow, one of them uses a scoop to spread feed over a wide area. The birds all eat hungrily. Sitting at a table back inside the centre Caretaker Ken Moordew provides details of his role at the park. Standing beside a path two young girls feed some of the birds gathering around their feet. A school party arrives at the park, sitting in front of one of the large observation windows the children write about or draw pictures of some of the birds they see. Wayne speaks with Nicholas [Nikki] who is the centre Educational Officer. She is asked about her role and the work she does with both children as well as adult groups. She is asked how she became first interested in working at the park. Nikki is asked what her favourite bird at the park is, she says it is the Cape Barron goose. Outside the gray heart shaped feathers and luminous green beak on one of these geese in its enclosure. A noticeboard nearby provides more information on the species. Nikki provides information of where it is from. On a nearby stream a pair of Black necked swans, Wayne rests on a fence post looking at a Trumpeter swan inside another enclosure trying to get through its fence. Wayne explains what he thinks the swan is doing, trying to escape and be with other swans in another field. Standing on a path Wayne speaks with an older couple who are both birdwatchers. They are asked why the come to the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre and what made them become members of the Wetland Trust. In the distance above the treeline a tower with a hide atop of it. A flock of geese fly past, and the couple interviewed previously walk away along a path beside a wire-fence. A nest in a tree change to water flowing along a stream. Wayne speaks with a woman about her interest both in photographing the birds at the park as well as in birdwatching and nature. On the edge of a lake three geese each standing on one leg, in nearby undergrowth a Pheasant. A sign points visitors to various hides and attractions at the centre with Wayne walking away along one of these tracks. Wayne speaks with a man about the most exciting bird he has ever seen using sign-language to communicate. He says that herons are his favourite bird with the film changing to several Grey herons standing along the banks of pond or lake. He is asked to describe the bird, as he does some of those take off into the sky. Back at the visitor’s centre Yvonne Irving is asked about the centres disabled facilities. She talks about a special play area for the disabled children built as part of an edition of the television game show ‘Challenge Anneka’ and a £25,000 conservatory which has been specially adapted for those with disabilities. Outside Wayne and Annie speak with a young woman in a wheelchair being pushed around the reserve by an older woman, presumably her mother. Back inside Nikki the Educational Officer explains why she has been learning sign language. A montage of various exotic birds feeding along the grounds outside the visitor’s centre changes to Ken Moordew explaining what happens should a bird become injured or sick. Following more birds feeding near to the centre, Wayne asks Yvonne Irving about her hopes for the park’s future, she explains the dream is to become the number one conservation organisation in the region. Wayne thanks her for her time changing to him walking away along a woodland path. Over the closing credits a bird asleep on the water. Credit: Director Catya Neilson Production Manager Iain Wells Production Assistant Richard King Research by R. King and I. Wells Camera Ian Carpenter Sound Rachael Hayes Editor Wayne Adams Assistant Editor Richard King Music and Sound F/X Adams and King Ltd Interpreter Annie Brotherton Title: Special thanks to the Wildfowl and Wetland Centre Washington End title: NEMTC © 1993