Vole Picnic

 

Vole Picnic - 12th June 2024 

‘A revelation of what lies beneath with, in and throughout the environment.’

‘The vole picnic was beautifully curated combining information, image, play activities - creative and scientific.’

‘Another splendid evening so relaxing informative and joyful.’

Summer evening view 

What a view! The Vole Picnic provided the ideal opportunity to celebrate our beautiful chalk stream and wonderful wildlife.

On Wednesday 12th June Attention2place extended an invitation to pause with chalk stream on a  summer evening and come along to Bishop’s Sutton Village Hall as part of the Whispers of Chalk  Stream project. 

The village hall provided the perfect setting, and the weather was kind. We were  delighted to be joined by village residents and visitors from beyond the village to join in the fun!

Chalk Stream Displays

Chalk stream displays from the evening 

Trail Camera 

Helen Clarke and Ian Diver welcomed participants and shared footage from their trail camera surveys. They thanked the various landowners (in particular the Mills and Pettit-Mills family) for kind permission to access the chalk stream.

Fun and Relaxation!

                                                        

Although signs of water voles have been found in the village, the creatures themselves continue to

 evade our wildlife cameras. So, for now, we designed our own …

Creating Vole Puppets         

                                                                                                                            

The Bishop's Sutton vole community 

A Story Of Small Beauties

Inspired by the ‘The Joy Bringers’ by Karin Celestine, Sharon shared a tale of finding the small, 

 everyday beauties in the Bishop’s Sutton locality.

The Joy Bringers, a tale of the turning year

Tales of Bishop's Sutton 

Fun In The Evening Sun

Story themed activities occupied the young at heart.

A chalk stream treasure hunt, roll a vole game and vole photo frame fun.

A Sunset Picnic

Thank you to all contributors and participants – what an entertaining and

 enjoyable evening! 

What did the participants learn? 

How wonderful the wildlife is down by the chalk stream; it’s alive with life. 

Otters are here in Bishop’s Sutton. 

About nature and about all the small mammals that live in the stream 

The animals and wildlife in and around stream 

There were more species than I knew of living in the village. I've learnt new 

names of flora and fauna. 

Community unity 

More than one type of duck in the stream. 

I am over-awed by the reach and depth of the project. The chalk stream has

 taken on a new life for me. 

The chalk stream is now a metaphor for how life could be lived better by us all!

What new actions will you take for wildlife?

Use Inaturalist with my primary school. 

Take photos for INaturalist 

Plant wildflowers and leave a wild patch in the garden 

Looking out for more wildlife and enjoying our chalk stream 

Stop and pause to appreciate and learn what plants and animals I shared my 

village with. 

To appreciate the small things! 

Pay more attention to the different species around us. 

The trail camera footage over the course of this project has revealed astonishing 

still and video images of heron/ water rail/ otter / vole/egret / so many amazing

 residents. 

Any other comments

Winter Spring and Summer ‘Watches’ at the chalk stream in Bishop’s Sutton. 

Brilliant enthusiastic people in a fun friendly environment 

Lovely event - thank you 

Had an amazing, very interesting evening 

Very tasty scones 

The community attending enjoyed hospitality- of delicious treats, summer fruits

 and drinks. The treasure hunt was a lot of fun with prompts and provocations 

to make us all connect, make  observations and to wonder at the very small and

 bigger life along the  chalk stream.

Troll Wisdom: geographical curriculum making for all

 Troll Wisdom: geographical curriculum making for all  

Annual Geographical Association Conference 

University of Manchester 

4th-6th April 2024

Workshop 12 

There is much to be learned from the wisdom of trolls, who ground local geographical knowledge in sensory immersion and direct engagement with the dynamic physical world. Inspired by trolls as wise geographers, we share lively and practical field-visiting ideas for curriculum making in a spirit of generosity, enquiry and playfulness. We think with place, time, geology, weather, stories and imagination.

Dr Sharon Witt and Dr Helen Clark, at @Attention2place with Colin Walker

    Photograph: Geographical Association 

Photograph: Geographical Association 

Photograph: Helen Martin 

Photograph: Helen Martin

Here is the presentation in a movie format:   

Thank you to all who came along to the session for their participation and engagement and a huge thank you to Brian Pilkington whose book Troll Philosophy and wisdom inspired us. 

Exploring the colours, textures and patterns of chalk stream

 

Exploring the colours, textures and patterns of chalk stream

‘Creativity in collaboration and in company’

‘ A brilliant evening of art and encounter’

‘A slow pace of thinking and making. Lovely!

‘‘A reminder to use our senses’

On Wednesday 24^th March Attention2place organized an event to pay attention to the colours, textures and patterns of chalk stream in Bishop’s Sutton village hall as part of the Whispers of Chalk Stream project. We were delighted to be joined by 25 people,  who came from both inside and outside the village to join in the fun!

 

Helen Clarke welcomed participants urging everyone to pay attention:

·         Attention as taking notice - to observe with all our senses.

·         Attention as mindful – to pause and linger.

·         Attention as care – to cherish.

·         Attention as awe – to wonder.

·         Attention as collective – to share.

·         Attention as beauty.

 

Whispers of Chalk Stream were delighted to welcome Sarah Filmer, a community artist from Southampton, to share her experience and expertise in community arts-based projects, including ‘Knit the Walls’ which held an exhibition at God’s House Tower.  Sarah shared the importance of collaborative and cooperative community projects for wellbeing, mindfulness, participation, and engagement.  

Sarah Filmer, community artist

Finally, Sharon introduced collage with a collective Momigami (Japanese paper kneading) session and a sharing of collage inspirations.

 Momigami magic: turning paper into fabric.

Prompts were shared to offer an open invitation to the audience to make together, co-creating artwork in response to the Bishop’s Sutton chalk stream:

 

Inky explorations

Yarns, textiles, and thread explorations

Paper collage explorations

Hands were busy: exploring, experimenting, dropping, mixing, threading, knitting, sticking, cutting, squeezing, tangling, tearing…  

Participants worked together and individually …

To create a river of colours, patterns, and textures of chalk stream:

Some artwork created during the evening:

A selection of the artwork can be viewed at the Chalk Stream Exhibition Day on Saturday 20^th July.

What did the participants learn?

‘The chalk stream ‘inspires creativity.’

‘The extent of the colours, textures and patterns … so inspiring’.

‘The different patterns which are created by the nature around the chalk stream and the environment.’

About chalk stream ‘textures and colours.’

 

What did participants enjoy about today’s event?

‘A chance to be quietly creative in a welcoming space with some prompts and freedom to express them. Thank you!’

‘Sticky fingers’

‘Talking, hanging out.’

‘Making a stream out of wool.’

‘Collage was fun; inks were fantastic.’

‘Playing with water was fun and made me think about aspects of the chalk stream.’

‘Interconnection - pattern touching colour, touching texture, touching ideas of chalk stream that holds our attention.’  

‘Loved the crafts.’

‘Just being creative, feels like my childhood has come back to me :)’

 

 

Thank you to all contributors and participants – what a creative evening and joyous celebration of our beautiful chalk stream!