A series of free workshops will take place this autumn across Knowsley to celebrate the community’s love and appreciation of local green spaces.
A group of experienced artists will lead creative and thought-provoking events inviting people to listen, watch, create and reflect on the wild spaces right on their doorstep.
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods said: “We have so many lovely open spaces in Knowsley and we know how much people enjoy spending time outdoors and the benefits that this can have on people’s health and wellbeing. This series of events are really unique and interesting and offer something new for our communities to get involved with.
“If you love being outdoors, enjoy spending time in nature and are passionate about the environment, take a look at what’s happening.”
Tuesday 12 September
John Maguire: Parklife
12pm – 4pm, Incredible Edible, Court Hey Park, Knowsley
Booking required
This ‘walk-shop’ will explore the importance of the local environment and promote climate awareness through shared reading of traditional folk tales, drawing, writing, meditation and discussion. This workshop is for adults, but feel free to bring the family along.
Friday 15 September
Birds Can Fly: Workshop
4pm – 5.30pm, Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot
Booking required
‘Accidental activist’ and award-winning interdisciplinary artist Paul Harfleet, uses art, illustration and design to educate and inspire bird lovers and promote creativity, kindness and acceptance. Paul will read from his debut children’s book Pansy boy and then invites you to take part in a drawing workshop, where – whatever your skill level – you’ll create perfectly beautiful drawings inspired by birds and nature.
Anyone who takes part is invited to join the Avian Amble through Court Hey Park on Saturday 16th September. Families welcome, suitable for ages 6+.
A Sense of Green
10am – 4.30pm, Incredible Edible, Court Hey Park, Free
An action-packed family-friendly day to celebrate the community’s love and appreciation of local green spaces. The day includes a range of activities from a creative celebration of local bird species and hands-on art and embroidery workshops to facilitated discussions about the climate crisis. There will also be the following workshops which you can book onto:
Environmental Justice Questions
10.30am and 2pm Booking required
Organised and edited by Harun Morrison, is a compilation of questions for discussion and debate with a range of people including activists, writers, artworkers, theorists, architects, chefs, natural historians and horticulturalists to propose a question relating to environmental justice that can stimulate conversation. Suitable for ages 16+.
Benjamina Albanese: Let’s Make Rubbish Art
11am – 4pm, Drop-in
Part show-and-tell, part artistic play area, Benjamina invites you to make ‘rubbish art’ from a range of materials she has accumulated over years of zero-waste living. Having lived without a general waste bin since 2018, the St Helens-based artist will use the session to challenge what we think of as ‘waste’, our role as waste producers, the waste we produce, and how that ‘waste’ might be reused.
Avian Amble with Paul Harfleet
12.30pm Booking required
Attendees of the Birds Can Fly workshops are invited to share their bird-inspired creations, and have their portraits taken to add to an exhibition of ‘gently referenced’ ornithological looks. There’s a prize for best dressed, and a free lunch too. Meet at the park café in your best feathers if you’d like to join the walk or come along to watch!
Mythology, Ecology, Embroidery with Becca Rauer
2.30pm – 4.30pm Booking required
Folklore, mythology and storytelling have been used for centuries to influence behaviour and instil morals in children and adults. Many of these powerful stories include environmental conservation messages that continue to influence policy today. Becca’s embroidery workshop will explore how folklore can help shape attitudes towards green spaces, inviting you to share stories and knowledge to inspire original embroidered artworks.
Saturday 14th October
Halewood Park Environment Centre, Knowsley
Mythology, Ecology, Embroidery with Becca Rauer
10.30am – 12.30pm Booking required
Folklore, mythology and storytelling have been used for centuries to influence behaviour and instil morals in children and adults. Many of these powerful stories include environmental conservation messages that continue to influence policy today. Becca’s embroidery workshop will explore how folklore can help shape attitudes towards green spaces, inviting you to share stories and knowledge to inspire original embroidered artworks.
Should I bring anything?
1.30pm – 3.30pm Booking required
Artist Francis Disley will celebrate the trees of Halewood Triangle Park as she leads a workshop exploring gifting, ceremony and ritual. This workshop has been designed for adults, but children are more than welcome to accompany.
A Sense of Green is part of Heart of Glass’ Arts Council England supported Creative People and Places programme. With additional support from Culture Hubs and Open Eye Gallery. In partnership with Incredible Edible Knowsley, Knowsley Council, Mersey Forest and Shakespeare North Playhouse.