‘Up the River’ a short animation created by Cherry Orchard Primary School pupils in conjunction with Unlocking the Severn was nominated for the Social Good Award at the British Animation Awards.

 

Unfortunately, ‘Up the River’ was not the final winner, however, it was a great achievement to be recognised.

 

The film was produced with the creative input of the children. Over 4 days, over 180 year 5 and 6 children took part in the workshops for Unlocking the Severn a conservation & river engagement project. The whole school of more than 600 children was involved in colouring pictures of the shad fish and contributing sound effects.

 

The children’s animation tells the story of two young twaite shad (an endangered species of fish) migrating into the River Severn from the sea and facing challenges on their journey to reach their spawning grounds. The 7-minute animation explains the problems that weirs cause as a barrier to fish, and how a fish pass can be the solution to get them back upriver to spawn.

 

Thanks to the new Diglis fish pass in Worcester, after a gap of around 170 years, endangered fish will finally make it up the river once again.

 

The animated short film will spread awareness for the project and be shown at the fish pass visitors’ centre.

 

Watch the animation