2021
During Spring, Summer and Autumn 2021, Artist James Aldridge worked with participants from 10 local areas (see below) across Wiltshire, from single people in their garden or local park, to small groups of residents outside almshouses and day centre groups in community spaces.
The aim of the project was to support isolated individuals at home, struggling with their wellbeing or mental health and who had an interest in nature and/or art. Participants were referred to Celebrating Age Wiltshire by local community connectors, a social prescriber or family member and supported by James to record what they noticed about their local natural environment, using drawing, printing, rubbing and collage.
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Corsham
‘I’ve really enjoyed your company, as well as what we’ve been doing.’
J, Corsham
‘Please tell the people in charge that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself’
B, Whitley
Royal Wootton Bassett
‘Rubbing this dandelion leaf makes me remember my mum making dandelion wine. This one leaf has brought back so many memories… I haven’t had this much fun for ages.’
B, Royal Wootton Basset
“That’s inspired me to get some leaves and materials and to experiment… you’ve got my creative juices flowing!’
P, Purton
Calne
‘You’ve introduced me to a media which I love, and it’s so easy. I’m definitely going to continue with it.’
Participant
Trowbridge
‘This has been a real inspiration… it’s not just what we are doing, it’s the memories that are being brought up by my doing it’
J, Trowbridge
Amesbury and Salisbury
‘I’ve surprised myself, I’m thrilled to bits!’
M, Salisbury
‘We’ve got the ones we did last week on our mantlepiece.’
Couple, Porton
Warminster
‘When I get a moment I’ll do some more of this, it’s such fun.’
J, Stockton
Chippenham
‘I’m going to take my granddaughter out doing this.’
Participant
Melksham
‘You’ve made an old woman very happy’
D, Melksham
SW Wiltshire
‘I really enjoyed that, I didn’t think I would to be honest…’
E, Hanging Langford
‘It was so nice to meet with other people after we had been shut in for so long.’
Participant, Quidhampton
2022
Your Artwork – Photographs Submitted From Across the County
If you have been inspired by Noticing Nature, to create your own artwork in response to your garden, a local park or a vase of flowers, please do get in touch by email, attaching some jpegs, and we can include your photographs in the gallery below.
‘We are going to have a go ourselves!’
Staff member, Ashwood Care Centre, Warminster
The Melksham Art and Nature Friends are a group that developed out of Noticing Nature project sessions held at That Meeting Space in Melksham, which now continues to meet independently, following set up support from James and Celebrating Age Wiltshire.
Celebrating Age Wiltshire is currently working across the following local areas: Corsham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Calne, Trowbridge, Amesbury and Salisbury, Warminster, Melksham and South West Wiltshire.
To refer someone to take part in the project, please complete the Noticing Nature Referral Form. To download the Noticing Nature Resource Pack, or view a short film made by James, which details activities that you can try at home, please visit here.
Noticing Nature 