Description

This body of work was inspired by a commission with Arts & Minds in collaboration with the National Trust which involved working with children suffering with mental health problems resident at the Ida Darwin Hospital, Cambridge. The environmental project, Inside Out, was funded by Children in Need and involved the work of a range of artists working both with children at the hospital and outside within a wildlife discovery area owned by the National Trust over five years. I devised and delivered a variety of creative workshops over three months in 2012, which explored the theme of 'home building' using inspiration from a wildlife discovery area owned by the National Trust. A year long residency followed, where I was able to further explore the interdependency of people and nature, learn about methods of conservation and habitat building for wildlife, and work with volunteers and staff helping engage people with nature in a creative way. I continue to work with National Trust as a volunteer artist-facilitator.