2011

Six Primary schools were invited to take part in the 2011 Experience the River project during May and June, to represent the major catchment rivers of the Trust.

The schools were:

Beetham (Bela)
Levens (Kent)
Selside (Mint, Lightwater)
Goodly Dale (Windermere, Mill Beck)
Coniston (Yewdale Beck)
Thwaites (Duddon, Black Beck)

133 children took part in the project, with an age range from Reception to Year 6.

SCRT was delighted to welcome Angie Mitchell as art tutor for the art component, with Philippa McMurdo continuing as the ecology tutor and project administrator. Angie brings a wealth of artistic and educational experience and has received very positive reviews from all the participating schools. Thanks also to Eve Grayson, a local University geography student, who gave voluntary help on three of the field days and was a very useful helper.

Each school spent one full day with both tutors, including a field trip to sketch, record and explore a local river, with a half day introduction and a half day follow up to complete an art project.

The opening session consisted of an introduction to the river as a habitat, some familiarisation with the invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals associated with the ecosystem, their life cycles and food chains.

The eagerly anticipated trip to the river began with sketching on the river bank and collecting materials for use later, followed by getting into the river with nets and equipment for sampling, sorting and identifying the creatures living there. Back in school the ecology component was rounded off by a review of the catch and illustration of how the invertebrates act as a monitor for water quality. Local examples used where possible to illustrate problems of sustainability which are occurring in our area, such as invasive species and pollution.

The project continued with an artistic interpretation of the river environment. Angie was keen to encourage individuals’ creative skills and to introduce the children to new techniques, concentrating mainly on printing. Each child produced a folding booklet with detailed images of some of the creatures superimposed on a monoprint background design suggesting the shapes and textures of the environment, and incorporating the sketches and mark making done on the river bank. Most schools were able to display the finished work in an exhibition to complete the project, and some intended to do a considerable amount of follow up work.