Join us for an inspiring creative walk in nature around Parkend in the heart of the Forest of Dean.
We start by walking over the railway bridge and following the path uphill towards St Pauls Church, Parkend. After exploring creative approaches around the churchyard we move through the woods to Oakenhill Nature Reserve where there are many beautiful beech trees. This is a varied and changeable route with a wide range of flora and fauna combined with the history of the railway and church.
On this walk we will be exploring approaches to recording in colour using watercolours, oil pastels, inks and crayons. As a consequence, there will be fewer but longer stops to record and respond. Five stops of 10–15 minutes anticipated, the rest of the time is walking.
At the end of the walk, at 12.30pm there is a café at Parkend cycle centre that sells good coffee, paninis, tea-cakes etc which is a good place for a chat.
Starting point: Parkend village, meet at the small car park opposite the railway.
Parking: Free parking on the green opposite the Fountain Inn.
Cost: Suggested donation of £5+ towards materials. Bookings close at 4pm the day before the event.
Facilities: At pub and café.
Level: This walk is not suitable for those who find walking difficult because there are numerous inclines on the route. Total length: 2 miles.
What to wear: Participants should dress appropriately for the weather on the day and wear sturdy boots or walking boots/shoes, a waterproof/warm jacket and layers to keep warm.
What to bring: Snacks, drinks. Notebooks and art materials will be provided but if participants wish to bring any of their own that’s fine. Try to be as ‘hands free’ as possible.
Dogs: Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, but please note we are often close to wildlife and it’s ideal if you can be as hands free as possible.
Your Canopy Leader: A walk designed and guided by Sara Rickard. Sara has lived in the FoD for over 20 years, is a textile artist and educator and a member of the Canopy steering committee. A member of farOpen and the Embroiderers’ Guild Sara’s own work focusses on stitch, both by hand and machine and is greatly inspired by the beauty of the forest. www.sarajoyrickard.com
About the Creative Walks programme: Canopy Creative Walks nurture connection, creative thinking and mental wellbeing through a combination of time outdoors, gentle exercise and social interaction. They are open to everyone. The routes are relatively short, the emphasis being on the journey taken rather than the destination. They follow a process of looking, listening, responding individually and collectively and sharing time together. Each walk is carefully researched, uniquely designed and guided by the leader/artist. Participants are encouraged to stop to observe, record, photograph, listen or consider a particular feature. Numerous approaches are offered to enable individuals to make a personal response visually or in words. The aim is to demonstrate various creative starting points which can be developed by participants later. At the end of the walk we share work, ideas and a coffee/sandwich at a nearby café for anyone interested in joining.
Find out more about Canopy: https://canopynetwork.co.uk/Important information: By attending this event, attendees acknowledge and agree that they are solely responsible for their own health, safety and wellbeing during the event. The hosting organisation assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, illnesses or damages that may occur before, during or after the event.
