Walk, Talk, Create
Walk, Talk, Create links the experience of spending a day in ancient woodland and firing children’s imagination and understanding. The project aims to increase awareness of sustainability, well-being and responsibility, slowing down time so that children can appreciate what is around them and develop a creative response to the rural environment.
At the heart of the project is the importance of maintaining a proximity to nature which is worryingly lacking in many children's lives.
‘We need to support meaningful relationships with nature for children at an early age if we are to ensure that they can take over the mantle of caring for our environment and the importance of biodiversity for sustainable futures.’ Anna McCarthy, Creative Projects Officer, Children’s Services, Norfolk County Council.
Children walk and talk about what they see. They spend 45 minutes with one tree, learning about its ecology culture and history in exciting active ways, observing and questioning, sketching and creating their own stories and drama before moving on to other aspects of woodland. Finally, the children are given a range of materials and encouraged to respond to the experience.
‘It made me think differently!’
Our target group in this initial phase of the project is Key Stage 2 children from urban primary schools who may not have access to the countryside. This unique project aims to plant a seed and initiate the development of a lifelong relationship with the natural world in every child.
The project is run by Belona Greenwood (writer) and Kate Munro (Artist) both established community practitioners and part of Norfolk County Council’s award-winning Artists for Cimate Change Collective.
‘I liked it when we were looking up into the trees. It was really peaceful.’
Contact The Greenword Tree on 01603 250 122 or email: thegreenwordtree@gmail.com
