I’m Nina Constable and I've been working as a conservation filmmaker for the past five years.
My work has taken me to some far-flung places,
and I've encountered incredible wildlife across the globe.
But in the past few years I have begun working closer to home
and realising more and more just quite how unique and diverse our UK wildlife is.
Last year I began working the WWF UK, documenting some of the amazing projects
they're working on with Sky ocean rescue. I have met incredible
people, real ocean heroes dedicated to protecting
and restoring our seas, our species, our natural environment.
And I've also learnt just how much these places and species need our help.
From otters, kingfishers, sharks
and seagrass, beavers, butterflies,
rivers and oceans. From land to sea, I've learnt just how connected it all is.
But I've also been realising how threatened they are.
Diving beneath the surface off the coast in Wales.
I discovered a world within a world. Underwater meadows of seagrass
lying just meters from the beach, lying hidden
unless you know they're there.
These swaying fronds of seagrass absorb carbon 35 times
faster than our rain forests, provide a nursery
for young fish, and create coastal buffers against storms that batter our coastlines.
Sadly we have lost over 92% of our seagrass meadows around our UK Coastline,
But a groundbreaking project is
hoping to turn the tide on this loss, by planting over 1 million seagrass
seeds. In an effort to create new meadows
and restore depleted, lifeless, habitats.
The UK is surrounded by coastline
and our coastal waters are part of
what makes the UK so diverse
and so special. But shockingly less than 1% of the seas around the
UK are fully protected by law. Proper protections are not just essential
for our marine and coastal wildlife.
If we were to protect and restore UK coastal habitats,
they have the potential to help us in the fight against climate change, to absorb up to 140
million tonnes of carbon, roughly one third of the UK's yearly total
carbon emissions.
The sound of Mull and the surrounding waters
are an incredibly important breeding ground and habitat for a whole host of species.
Home to the largest bottlenose dolphins on the planet,
and a potential breeding ground for basking sharks.
This area of ocean is vital
for the survival of these incredible species.
Heading out with a WWF team
and the scientists was an experience
I will never forget. As we steamed further into the big blue,
it seemed impossible that we would see anything. Water reaching out
as far as the eye could see. But then suddenly a huge black fin cut through the water.
It was unmistakable. Circling our boat
for what seemed like hours, stretching the length of the hull and more.
This was one of the most incredible encounters, to be in the presence of something
so huge and so ancient, but also witnessing the incredible efforts of scientists
working to gather vital data in order to help protect them.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been given opportunities to encounter iconic species.
But recently I've been looking even closer to home,
exploring what lies right on my very doorstep.
As we've all asked to stay home as spring unfolded around us. Bluebells emerged,
in abundance gradually fading into foxgloves as the seasons marched on.
I watched nesting birds bring food to young chicks,
and observed butterflies beginning to fill the hedgerows.
I started to turn my camera on the life surrounding me, and began to become
much more connected to my local patch. To the small stuff, even the macro world.
What I have learnt through my film work is that the UK is home
to the most incredible array of habitats,
and species large and small,
and that you don't always have to travel to have one-of-a-kind experiences.
I've also learnt that this incredible life is in trouble and needs our help.
During this strange and uncertain time, many of us have had our eyes opened to the wonder
of the wildlife lying right on our very doorsteps.
It's been a solace for so many,
and provided a sense of calm and healing, but now nature needs us to give back.
It needs us to give it a voice, it needs us to protect it, and it needs us to act now.
We need the next 10 years to be a turning point for our oceans or we risk destroying them.
And that is why WWF and Sky Ocean Rescue
have launched a brand new campaign.
Ocean Heroes encourages us all
to take actions in our own lives,
whilst calling on the government to commit to an ocean recovery strategy
that will restore our oceans to health.
Think about what the natural world has given to you over the past few months,
and take a stand for nature.