The South Cumbrian rivers are features of great importance in biodiversity, landscape,historical and social terms. In order to maintain these features there needs to be a strong community awareness of the rivers, both now and in the future.
Our Experience the River Project seeks to encourage this awareness through art, craft and scientific activities.
The essence of this project is to develop children’s creative skills through observation of the river environment and through the close study of river habitats in order to gain a sense of the interconnectedness of life forms within the river.
This is a report on Experience the River 2 after completion of ten river workshops in the River Kent catchment in May and June of this year.
Our Experience the River Project seeks to encourage this awareness through art, craft and scientific activities.
The essence of this project is to develop children’s creative skills through observation of the river environment and through the close study of river habitats in order to gain a sense of the interconnectedness of life forms within the river.
This is a report on Experience the River 2 after completion of ten river workshops in the River Kent catchment in May and June of this year.
Despite some threatening weather forecasts we did not have to postpone or cancel any of the workshops and every one of them went ‘swimmingly’! A total of approximately 280 children at key stage 2 level took part from the following schools; Levens, Heversham, Beetham, Staveley, Milnthorpe, Dean Barwick (Witherslack), Grayrigg, St.Thomas’s, Stramongate, and Endmoor.
Choosing the river sites close to the schools, where possible, allowed the children to walk to the river and take in the surrounding landscape and wildlife. The majority really enjoyed the first activity of sketching from the riverbank, not least as it involved drawing with a stick rather than a pencil.
Choosing the river sites close to the schools, where possible, allowed the children to walk to the river and take in the surrounding landscape and wildlife. The majority really enjoyed the first activity of sketching from the riverbank, not least as it involved drawing with a stick rather than a pencil.
The river dipping that followed was, as always, a huge hit. The children found many weird and wonderful creatures including; fly larvae, water-nymphs, snails and leeches, minnows and bullhead, trout fry and eels. The one or two young fishing enthusiasts more familiar with the creatures the majority were amazed and delighted at what they had found. They were so engrossed as to be reluctant to come out of the water. Through games and interactions with each other the children also learned about the life cycles of the river inhabitants and about food chains.
Back at school the children spent the afternoon producing their own paintings inspired by their sketches and the wonderful creatures they had found. They worked in watercolour, learning different techniques and paint effects and were encouraged to include the whole habitat, from the riverbed, under the water surface to the sky above.
Back at school the children spent the afternoon producing their own paintings inspired by their sketches and the wonderful creatures they had found. They worked in watercolour, learning different techniques and paint effects and were encouraged to include the whole habitat, from the riverbed, under the water surface to the sky above.
Annie and I were really pleased with the success of this years river project. As it was our second year I think we were much more confident and relaxed and the days just seemed to flow being a joy to carry out. The children produced some really inspiring artwork and the feedback from both them and their teachers was very favourable.
Following on from this there was a further 10 workshops. Schools from Grayrigg, Endmoor, Heversham, Beetham and Dean Barwick School, Witherslack were involved in a ceramic day with artist Sally Toms where they made 3D ceramic sculptures of the many wonderful creatures they had found on their river visit.
The 4 remaining schools, Levens, Staveley, Stramongate and St.Thomas’s worked with ceramic artist Angie Mitchell making textured clay tiles inspired by their river visits.
Following on from this there was a further 10 workshops. Schools from Grayrigg, Endmoor, Heversham, Beetham and Dean Barwick School, Witherslack were involved in a ceramic day with artist Sally Toms where they made 3D ceramic sculptures of the many wonderful creatures they had found on their river visit.
The 4 remaining schools, Levens, Staveley, Stramongate and St.Thomas’s worked with ceramic artist Angie Mitchell making textured clay tiles inspired by their river visits.
Once again the feedback from schools was very positive, all parties involved having really enjoyed the activities. The tiles for the mural are full of detail, and alive with pattern and texture. Fish, birds, invertebrates and plantlife and landscape are all assembled on the completed mural outside the Brewery, on the wall along from the main entrance into the building. The sculptures the children produced with Sally Thoms ranged from the real to the fantastical. The scale of these sculptures was very inspiring.
Many of the paintings and drawings, together with the sculptures were exhibited in the Warehouse Gallery at The Brewery Arts Centre for a week beginning the 14th of September The opening of the exhibition and unveiling of the mural was carried out by John Martin, Habitat Officer for the Environment Agency.
The whole project has been a total success with very favourable feedback from all those who took part. We hope above all that through their experiences with the rich river environment, and the art and craft activities that followed, the children will have acquired a real sense of ‘spirit of place’.
Many of the paintings and drawings, together with the sculptures were exhibited in the Warehouse Gallery at The Brewery Arts Centre for a week beginning the 14th of September The opening of the exhibition and unveiling of the mural was carried out by John Martin, Habitat Officer for the Environment Agency.
The whole project has been a total success with very favourable feedback from all those who took part. We hope above all that through their experiences with the rich river environment, and the art and craft activities that followed, the children will have acquired a real sense of ‘spirit of place’.
(PICTURES TO FOLLOW.....)