MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY: HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND

Green TV, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), will provide an innovative and exciting programme of environmental and heritage engagement through the arts for the Tees Valley. The overall aim of the project is to raise awareness of and increase public access to key areas of outstanding natural heritage within the sub-region.

Green TV will see artists working alongside conservation site workers and teachers delivering a diverse range of exciting arts based activities engaging primary school pupils, their families and the wider community with local natural heritage and wildlife sites across the Tees Valley. Following a launch event at the beginning of May, residencies in the first five of ten schools in the first year are about to commence in late May, running through to the end of July.

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in the North East, Ivor Crowther said: “Our natural heritage is something to be proud of; we have some of the most beautiful landscapes and wildlife in the country. This project is a great way to get everyone involved in the environment in a fun and creative way, preserving it for the future. With it being the International Year of Biodiversity, this project has come at a great time! The HLF is dedicated to supporting local communities learn about all aspects of their heritage through initiatives like this.”

Artists Lindsay Duncanson, Adrian Moule, Tony Charles, Paul Dolan and Kev Howard will be working with pupils from Abingdon Primary School, Middlesbrough, Gurney Pease Primary School, Darlington, Whitecliffe Primary School, Carlin How, Lynnfield Primary School, Hartlepool and Yarm Primary School.

The nature sites that will be studied are Maze Park Nature Reserve near the Tees Barrage, The Whinnies Nature Reserve at Middleton St George, Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve, Redcar, North Gare and Seaton Dunes, Hartlepool and RSPB Saltholme.

The project is co-ordinated by Tees Valley Arts in partnership with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, RSPB Saltholme, Darlington Borough Council, Teesmouth Field Centre and Tees Archaeology.

Joe Dunne, Heritage & Environment Officer at Tees Valley Arts commented “I am absolutely thrilled that this exciting project is about to commence. We are really looking forward to working together with artists and wildlife partners to really engage and enthuse the young people and their families with their rich local natural heritage.“

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF)

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK including over £209million in the North East. For further information see: www.hlf.org.uk

For more information about the project, please visit www.teesvalleyarts.org.uk/greentv