World premiere of "A Moving Story"

4th February 2010

A Highland Council Ranger project in Sutherland came to fruition when the red carpet was rolled out for the World premiere of "A Moving Story", a film starring many of the children of the North West Highlands Geopark which was shown at the Screen Machine 2 in Kinlochbervie on Monday (1st February 2010)

72 school children from six primary schools were taken on a 400 million year trip at Knockan Crag NNR by the Highland Council Rangers from Ullapool, Lochinver and Durness in October. Their "dramatic" output was captured on film where the children imaginatively demonstrated their understanding of the famous Moine Thrust and the characters involved in the "Highland Controversy" - the great scientific debate in 19th century geology about the puzzle of why older rocks came to rest on younger ones which led to Peach and Horne surveying the geology of Assynt.

To create an authentic "Oscars" feel to the event children and adults came along dressed in period costume and presentations were made to a variety of categories including as best actor, best costume design and best moustache, by guest of honours SNH's Knockan Crag reserve manager Sue Agnew, Highland Council Countryside Ranger Donald Mitchell and Geopark Geo-Ranger Donald Fisher. After the premiere each child was given their own personal copy of the DVD, as a memento of the day when they learnt that Scotland used to be much nearer the equator.

SNH and the NW Highlands Geopark funded the event in collboration with The Highland Council.

Andy Summers Highland Council Senior Ranger said: "This was an innovative way of promoting geology and the geopark to children and to instil a sense of pride in their wonderful landscape. "

The schools involved were Kinlochbervie Primary, Scourie Primary, Achfary Primary, Stoer Primary, Lochinver Primary and Achiltibuie Primary.