I’ve come to the end of my Noticing Nature project sessions this year. I’ll be back at Goodson Lodge Care Home in Trowbridge for a one off session linked to the Great Garden Birdwatch in January, and then will be back on the road working at locations around the county from March.
During November, as the days have shortened and the leaves have started falling from the trees, I’ve been working with two groups, one at Pound Arts in Corsham, and another at Calne Library. Together we’ve been focusing on the colour and beauty that we find around us at this time of year, sharing what we have noticed as the seasons change, and trying out different ways to record our ‘noticings’.
I’m privileged as I work on the project, to hear about people’s lives outside of the sessions, as they draw, collage or handle the objects that I bring along. I’m not an art therapist, and the sessions aren’t advertised as therapy either, but as people come together they often share the things that they have been finding hard, and the value that meeting as a group and learning new skills has for them, whether they have been bereaved, have recently moved to the area, or are looking for a new direction after retirement.
As an arts and wellbeing project, our aim is that by coming together in this way, participants feel less isolated and go away having formed new connections, reignited creative interests, or learned new skills all together.
I’ve included photos from these recent sessions to give you a taste of what we got up to. As always, if you would like to be a part of Noticing Nature, or you know an older person living in Wiltshire who you think would benefit from being referred to us, please contact the Celebrating Age Wiltshire team at CAWSupport@wiltshiremusic.org.uk.
And a reminder that you can also access the free Noticing Nature Resource Pack and a video sharing some creative techniques that you can use at home. If you do carry out some of the activities at home, and would like to share your artwork with us, please email them to the email address above. We’d love to see them!
Noticing Nature 