Excellent new documentary: To Keep The Water Flowing

Over the past couple of years or so, the University of Hull has been working on an Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) grant-funded research project about Internal Drainage Boards. ADA has supported and been involved in the project as part of an Advisory Team.

Part of that work has involved the preparation of a documentary film about the work of IDBs, which has now been completed and offered to ADA and all IDBs to use as they see fit. ADA sees this film as an excellent resource for IDBs to help inform their ratepayers about the important work they do. ADA will be signposting the film on the ADA website.

The below quote from the Project Lead, Professor Greg Bankoff, explains a little more about the film and the open offer to all IDBs to make use of it, as well as the link where it can be viewed.

Alexander Parkyn-Smith and I have been filming a documentary about Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) and what they do for the last few years as part of a grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). I am glad to tell you that the documentary is now finished and available to freely download.

The documentary runs for a little over 25 minutes and aims to inform a viewer who may not be aware of all or any about the various important functions undertaken by IDBs, including desilting, cutting and flailing, maintenance and improvements, and water management and flood risk mitigation. It also considers their future role at a time when climate and rainfall patterns are changing. We would like to thank the many IDB operatives, farmers, and local councillors who have given their time and assistance in helping us make this documentary.

We are making this documentary completely free to use by any IDB or by any other agency who might find it helpful to explain to their ratepayers, the public or other government or non-government organisations, the important role played by these boards in managing water in both rural and urban areas. As a matter of courtesy, all we ask in return is to inform us who is using the documentary and for what purpose so that we can report back to the AHRC on its utility. A brief note to this effect, sent to backstairfilms@gmail.com, will more than suffice.

Again, many thanks for all your help.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Greg Bankoff

Professor Emeritus, University of Hull
& Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines

Can I simply re-iterate that if you intend to use the film in any way, please let the project team know as per the instructions in the letter. As Prof Bankoff has said, this will greatly help the team feedback to the AHRC on the utility of the film.

With best regards

Innes Thomson

Chief Executive, ADA

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