schools autumn 2007

This interpretative nature and art project aims to achieve an awareness of a local natural environment and its wildlife for school children, through observation and study in an artistic way. The stimulation of natural creativity and imagination through environmental art increases confidence and well-being for participants. The importance of sustaining and preserving the natural places and its wildlife is highlighted, giving the children a lifelong understanding and appreciation of nature. Please scroll down for fully illustrated feature of the project at each venue.

Mae'r prosiect natur/celf ddeongliadol hwn yn anelu at greu ymwybyddiaeth ymhlith plant ysgol o'r amgylchedd naturiol a'r bywyd gwyllt lleol trwy wyliadwriaeth ac astudio mewn ffordd gelfyddydol. Mae symbylu creadigrwydd a'r dychymyg trwy gelf amgylcheddol yn cynyddu hyder a lles y cyfranogwyr. Amlygir pwysigrwydd cynnal a chadw lleoedd naturiol a bywyd gwyllt, gan ennyn dealltwriaeth gydol oes ymhlith y plant, yn ogystal â'r gallu i werthfawrogi byd natur.

The Autumn season has given us the breathtaking beauty of a myriad of amazing colours, slowly revealing the naked forms of the trees in winter. The past Autumn at Colby Woodland Garden has been the most spectacular yet and has inspired our young Artists and new workshop Artists to create further interesting and unique artworks.We have truly celebrated this fantastic autumn. Although colour has been has been a focus throughout this season painting, printing, and pattern, construction with large Rhododendron leaves has been used to create vessels and masks. The masks in return have lead to the inspiration of stories, poems and plays. We also have used reclaimed fabrics to create a large Rhododendron Tree sculpture, which also recognises the unique form of the tree and how it grows. We have used hay found in the meadow in early Autumn to create Artworks, falling leaves mid season and more sticks twigs and naked tree form as inspiration in the last of the autumn workshops as the season changes. The later has been an inspiration for willow tunnels and domes, giving the effect of walking through woodland with the entwined branches above your head.

The mild and mostly dry Autumn has contributed positively to a very successful and enjoyable series of workshops for local primary schools at Mumbles Hill Local Nature Reserve. Once again, the Reserve has been the perfect place to observe the beautiful changes in colour of this exciting season and also catch glimpses of some of the wildlife there, such as robins, wrens, stonechats, larger sea birds and even a sparrow hawk. The children have also looked for and thought about hidden creatures, such as moths, hedgehogs (hopefully hibernating in all the colourful leaves) and the old fox that is known to live on the reserve. These animals have been the inspiration for artworks created on the reserve and in follow up sessions in schools. The smaller children have created wonderful moth puppets from natural materials and based on four different species, that they have thoroughly enjoyed finding out about. Larger kite like sculptures have also been created of these moths for display. A temporary sculpture trail of sustainable materials, such as willow used together with stone and other found things, has been appearing on the reserve throughout the season. The children have enjoyed recreating some of the views there, like Bracelet Bay and the lighthouse or the sea around them. The meaningful sculptures, admired by visitors and parents, are precious memories now for the children as well as recorded by them in photographs. The rich tapestry of colours has been highlighted by the children with colour wheel artworks. The colours for these have been made by the young participants themselves, from plants such as blackberries, leaves and mud. The children have found out and understood the source of natural pigments that can be used in art. This has made them more resourceful and has stimulated their imaginations.

Castle woodlands in Mumbles have proved to be another inspirational place to run the workshops. This is a new space that has been recreated by Mumbles Development Trust, of the original Oystermouth Castle Woodlands. Some beautiful puppet moths were made here by the children from Oystermouth School, using leaves, moss and other natural things. The children learnt about four different species of moth - the Hummingbird Hawk Moth (shown above), the Moon Moth, the Atlas Moth and the Swallowtail Moth. The children also created special shelters based on the work of Artist Andy Goldsworthy, which they excitedly showed to their parents later.

COLBY WOODLAND GARDEN, PEMBS.

PARTICIPATING PRIMARY SCHOOLS AUTUMN 2007

STEPASIDE, TAVERNSPITE, MOUNT AIREY, SAGESTON, COSHESTON, MILFORD HAVEN, LLANGYNOG, PEMBROKE DOCK, NEYLAND.

Artists: Tina Marie Cunningham, Jo Steadman, Claire Ferguson-Walker and Tina Lewis

COSHESTON

MILFORD HAVEN
NEYLAND PRIMARY

MUMBLES HILL LOCAL NATURE RESERVE PARTICIPATING PRIMARY SCHOOLS AUTUMN 2007

Y.G.G. FELINDRE, TRE-UCHAF, TERRACE ROAD, PORTMEAD, CWMBWRLA, Y.G.G. PONTYBRENIN, Y.G.G. LLWYNDERW, PENYREHEOL, SEAVIEW, ST. HELENS, TREGWYR.

Artists: Sara Holden, Dave Marchant, Esther Ley, Viv Rhule and Sarah Griffin

CWMBWRLA
Y.G.G. LLWYNDERW
PENYREHEOL
Y.G.G. PONTYBRENIN
PORTMEAD
SEAVIEW
ST. HELENS
TERRACE ROAD
TREGWYR
TRE-UCHAF	Contrasting low november light
	A Nature Reserve table displays four different species of moths made by the children.