Wednesday 23 June 2010

Woodland Wonders and Wellbeing

This month, I'm teaching at Yarrow Valley Park, Chorley. The aim is to promote the importance of trees in the environment as well as developing social interaction and communication skills. This week the learners were challenged to create art from natural materials and leave them as gifts for other visitors. One learner made a window of twigs and used it to frame the beautiful shapes of baby oak leaves and the contrasting shape and colours of ivy.

Another learner created a sculpture which doubles up as a home for mini beasts.

Above is another design which we hope will attract centipedes and beetles etc.

Someone else was also intrigued with ivy growing on the trees and framed it. Do you love or loathe ivy? Yes, it is a parasitic and can damage trees. But when I note just how many birds depend on its berries to see them over the lean winter months when very little other food is available, I think it can't be all bad.

5 comments:

Neil said...

'The importance of trees in the environment'? - I hope some of your learners were from the council!

Annah said...

That looks like a wonderful day to spend the day :)

Crafty Green Poet said...

Sounds like a great course to be involved with. I love the idea of sculptures doubling up as homes for mini-beasts...

The Weaver of Grass said...

I love ivy - birds nest in it, eat its berries - and it rarely kills the tree, just covers it with pretty leaves.

Caroline Gill said...

Fascinating! Have just come back from Scotland where we loved the ancient Caledonian pine forest.

from the field book

from the field book
An inspiring gift for anyone who enjoys watching nature.