Bubbles and Squeaks, is engaging 8 schools in learning about and celebrating their local rivers. Here, in hilly West Dorset, we are surrounded by beautiful meandering rivers, and rare chalk streams with unique biodiversity. But we know our rivers are suffering. Local children and teenagers are visiting rivers with ecologists, and we are working with communities to build the stories of the rivers Cerne, Hooke, Frome and Mangerton Brooke.
Inspired by what they have found in the rivers, school children are working with our artists to create an ensemble of river creatures for processional events. These will be at Cerne Abbas on 26th September, and in the Powerstock area on 17th October. Kingfishers. The ensemble will feature kingfishers, mayfly, water crowfoot, trout and salmon, and coming up at the back, a ‘March of the Beavers’, bearing placards encouraging us all to take action.
We are proud of the work being done for rivers by our environmental partners. ‘Bubbles and Squeaks’ will help spread the word, and encourage dinner table discussions about the practical actions we can take at home.
Build a Speckled Trout or a Leaping Salmon. These workshops are for parents and children from 6 upwards, working together, . The day starts at 10 am and ends at 3pm. The lanterns will be kept and given out at events. Cost: £2.50 per person, please book in advance on eventbrite
Posters will appear in Maiden Newton, Cerne Abbas, around Powerstock and Bridport in the summer holidays. E-flyers will be sent out to parents via schools.
Cerne Abbas Village Hall , 28th July – Speckled Trout Workshop, with artist Sarah Butterworth – This is also a Culture Quest workshop, https://culturequest.co.uk/listings/speckled-trout-art-workshop/
Bradpole Village Hall, Bridport, 30th July – Speckled Trout Workshop, with artist Sarah Butterworth
Cerne Abbas Village Hall, 7th August – Leaping Salmon Workshop, with artist Holly Miller
Maiden Newton Village Hall, 12th August – Leaping Salmon Workshop, with artist Sarah Butterworth
Sydling St Nicholas Village Hall, 14th August – Leaping Salmon Workshop, with artist Holly Miller. This is also a Culture Quest workshop, https://culturequest.co.uk/listings/speckled-trout-art-workshop/
Bridport Arts Centre forecourt, drop in workshop, 15th Aug – ‘Make the River Flow’, create eels, scary brooke lamprey, fish and waves to join the river processions. Workshop to be run by Sarah and other artists
Bridport WI Hall, 15th August – Leaping Salmon Workshop, with Holly Miller
Powerstock Hut, Oct 4th – Speckled Trout, with Sarah Butterworth
THE EVENTS!
26th Sept – A Colourful Daylight Parade in Cerne Abbas, featuring all the lanterns, puppets and music, all created by school children working with our artists. A new stop-animation film will also be screened.
17th October – An Illuminated Evening Procession in the area of Powerstock, featuring all the lanterns and puppets, lit up! A film screening will also take place. The event is expected to conclude with a fire sculpture.
Watch this space for more Info!
June Update –
This month children from our 3 participating primary schools have dipped nets into Rivers Cerne, Hooke and Frome. With ecologist and nature writer Edd Moore and Kevin Parr they have found bullhead fish, caddis larvae, alder fly, crayfish and many fascinating invertebrates. In Cerne Abbas, working with Kevin, and artists Liz Somerville and Sarah Butterworth, a river map was created in the church, mapping the river’s journey from source to sea. Children and the local community shared nature sightings, historical facts, their stories and memories of the river, they drew pictures and pasted photographs. Similar maps have been created in Maiden Newton and Powerstock.
Working with our artists, children are creating swallows, caddis larvae, beavers, underwater hats, and putting words on placards…
