Visitors Get Crafty In The Dales
28 July 2010
Local artist Sue Mulroy beside some of the art
A Green Man sculpture
Children and artists have created and exhibited paintings and sculpture inspired by the natural landscape and wildlife of the Derbyshire Dales National Nature Reserve on Saturday.
Programme Leader, Peter Wiltshier, and students Sam Turl and Beverley Longman, from the University of Derby Buxton's Travel and Tourism degree course supported the 'Discovering the Dale' event. The event was organised by Natural England as part of its programme of 'Let's Go Wild' events at the reserve.
More than 30 children and 55 adults worked with Bakewell artist Sue Mulroy to create artworks inspired by the landscape and wildlife of Lathkill Dale. They used the natural patterns on ash trees to sculpt green men out of clay, and other natural materials to create models of river creatures and minibeasts found on the nature reserve.
Peter Wiltshier, Programme Leader on the University's Travel and Tourism degree said: "We were all delighted to work with Natural England on the event. It was a great day and our students were able to use their knowledge and experience of tourism, events and this special area, to give the visitors an enjoyable day of artistic activities. The students also earned credits towards their personal development portfolios"
Natural England's Community Outreach Advisor, Paul Maddox, said: "The children and adults greatly enjoyed the opportunity to work with a professional artist and this resulted in some beautiful pieces of art.
"For some of the children it was their first experience of Lathkill Dale and I hope that many will come back again to enjoy the other family events that we are running here over the summer holidays and beyond."
Details of other Natural England 'Let's Go Wild' family events at Lathkill Dale can be found by visiting the Events Finder on their website www.naturalengland.org.uk
For more information about this story, contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07909 533242 email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
