Environmental Arts Day/ Projects
Create beautiful things to take back to school whilst exploring the ecosystem of the woodland habitat... We also love working with schools over a longer period, being involved in art projects, interpreting environmental awareness, habitat, ecology and sustainability. Get in touch to discuss any project ideas.
One Day Workshop
Themed around the animal kingdom with a mix of green woodwork, tool use, charcoal making and drawing techniques, play with clay and also a hands-on investigation of UK mammal skull collection and bird feathers. You take home a giant wooden sculpture for your school grounds, plus each child takes home their own artwork and charcoal made.
Invertebrates: Collaborative wood sculpture of a giant millipede/invertebrate to take back to school, investigate the structure of the various minibeasts that live in the woods
Birds: Charcoal making, feather and wing structure investigation followed by charcoal techniques to create bird themed drawings
Mammals: Skull identification of UK mammals including teeth structure of different animal groups. Comparing with bird skulls.
Clay based natural creations: Using the natural resources of the woodland, children learn about the key identifying features of the different animal groups and interpret them into clay
Location options
National Trust Footprint, Windermere, LA23 1NH Beautiful woodland site with waterproof canopies or in the inspiring strawbale Footprint building
Your own school grounds
Costs
One day workshop = £350 (up to 30 pupils)* incl materials and site fee
additional mileage depending on location
Please contact us for prices of longer term projects
* Please get in touch if you have a larger group
Tutors
Ro Thomas
Examples of longer-term projects:
Litter Monster Project
In partnership with Eden Rivers Trust and Tullie House Carlisle
Children from three Eden schools immersed themselves in the multifaceted study of litter and the aquatic environment culminating in a thought provoking dramatically visual multimedia exhibit which formed the central piece of the Eden Wonder World Exhibition at Tullie House
The children have been:
Explorers…studying wildlife and habitats of Eden’s rivers
Environmentalists… actively litter picking their local stretch of river
Scientists… analysing the types of litter they found and investigating materials, degradation times and impacts on nature
Creative Artists… using a broad range of creative techniques to create wondrous works of art from litter
Film-makers…filming and producing their own litter monster animations
Educators…discussing and developing ideas to share as the interpretation of this exhibition
Natural Footprints Project
St Cuthberts Primary Windermere
A multi-year project nurturing a deepening of connection with natural woodland at National Trust Footprint. Exploring and creating wonderous collaborative sculptures to take back to school...giant centipede, woven nests, the parliament of wooden owls, green man, giant trees...
Foulshaw Moss - Aren't Bogs Brilliant
In partnership with RSPB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Morecambe Bay Local Nature Partnership.
The children from Dean Barwick Primary in Witherslack worked with Woodmatters and staff from the RSPB to study the plants and animals that make Foulshaw Moss such a special environment.
Inspired by what they discovered they created a wonderful ‘Aren’t Bogs Brilliant!’ Art Trail through the mediums of sculpture, willow work, using natural materials, printmaking and painting. The arts trail was open to the public along the boardwalks at Foulshaw Moss for 3 months.
Experience the River Project
In partnership with South Cumbria Rivers Trust
River ecology, river dipping finding loads of brilliant creatures in the rivers local to each of the schools we worked with. We then collated everything we've discovered into a giant multimedia hanging artwork using river water, making our own natural dyes, using stones, sticks and leaves and printmaking from our sketches of the creatures we discovered.