Fell ponies and friendship lead to national Royal Television Society award for Cumbria graduates

University of Cumbria graduates Georgia Costin and Abbey Wilkinson have won the Saving the Planet (undergraduate) category of the 2024 RTS Student Television Awards for their 10-minute film Tails of Cumbrian Heritage. 

Judges said: “The jury said this was a clear and powerful film, making an impassioned argument for not losing touch with your roots.” 

Above: (l-r) RTS award-winning University of Cumbria graduates Abbey Wilkinson and Georgia Costin

Georgia and Abbey, who graduated with BA (Hons) Wildlife Media degrees last November, were keen to ensure that the film was an all-female affair. 

Whilst they remained behind the camera, Georgia and Abbey’s Tails of Cumbrian Heritage tells the story on-screen of breeders and Fell Pony Heritage Trust members Libby Robinson and mother-of-one and hill farmer Samantha Smith as they strive to conserve the wild roots of the ponies found on the fells of Cumbria for future generations. 

Above: Cumbrian hill farmer Samantha Smith with a fell pony

Georgia, 25, of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, said: “I’m obsessed with horses and there are native breeds all over the country. The fell pony was the late Queen’s favourite pony and she was the ambassador of the Fell Pony Society which is in part why I found them so interesting. 

“One day I found out via university about a night-time trek taking place near Tebay that was focusing on fell ponies. It was there I met Libby Robinson and what she was saying, and her passion, was just so powerful that there was an instant connect for me.” 

Above: Libby Robinson, Fell Pony Heritage Trust

The pair were invited to meet a group of farming families in a rural pub, who were discussing the history and heritage of fell ponies on their common. 

Abbey, 22, of Norwich, Norfolk, said: “I knew instantly that we had to tell their story, from the farmer’s perspective. We were also keen that our film was all-female because farming and filmmaking are often seen as male-dominated industries. 

“It was also an opportunity to give the farmers a voice in a way that hasn’t really been done much this way before.” 

Interviews and footage, including aerial shots with a drone, were captured and filmed using equipment from the University of Cumbria's Institute of Education, Arts and Society, which runs creative and media arts programmes at its Brampton Road campus in Carlisle. Abbey and Georgia also spent around 300 hours in the editing suite whilst completing their final-year project. 

Earlier this year, their film was shortlisted for a regional RTS student television award which was won by fellow University of Cumbria graduate Peter Howarth. 

Tails of Cumbrian Heritage, like all shortlisted entries, went forward for the national RTS student television awards, winners of which have been revealed at a ceremony in London. 

University of Cumbria Alumni Association members and best friends Abbey and Georgia were on holiday and unable to attend the recent ceremony, only discovering that they had won whilst on a coastal walk during their time in Devon. 

Laura Baxter is the programme leader for the BA (Hons) Wildlife Media degree delivered by the University of Cumbria’s Institute of Education, Arts and Society. 

Laura said: “As a team on the wildlife media programme, we’re all so proud of Georgia and Abbey. Long-serving colleagues can not remember the last time someone from our university won a national RTS award like this. 

“To Georgia and Abbey we say keep film making. They are talented young women who have found a firm friendship during their time at our university which has helped to develop and elevate their skills and passions for film-making and the natural world. 

“Their close connection has resulted in this award-winning creation that is now recognised for its excellence. The film brings together all of their talents from photography and producing film to science, natural history, conservation and story-telling.” 

Tails of Cumbrian Heritage can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/829772910 

ENDS