Get Involved in our Workshops and Walks
As we prepare for our upcoming production of ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’ performance in Hebden Bridge and Elland in July as part of Calderdale’s Year of Culture we invite you to be part of the project.
Our current workshops and guided walks are listed on this page and you can register for a ticket by visiting our bookings page.
To find out more about our drop-in activities, workshops, and walks coming up at our Community Creative Days on Saturday 1 June in Todmorden and Saturday 15 June in Rastrick visit here.
Our current workshops and guided walks are listed on this page and you can register for a ticket by visiting our bookings page.
To find out more about our drop-in activities, workshops, and walks coming up at our Community Creative Days on Saturday 1 June in Todmorden and Saturday 15 June in Rastrick visit here.
Kids' Illustration / Art Workshop
With Jimmy Dolan Mytholmroyd Community Centre Saturday 18 May 2-4.30pm Ages 7-11, plus their grown up Come and join Jimmy Dolan, artist and educator to help create a massive mixed-media illustration inspired by 'The Man Who Planted Trees' by Jean Giono, which is Hebden Bridge Arts' new community project as part of Calderdale’s Year of Culture. We will listen to the story and then work collaboratively or individually on a section of a massive picture to create an amazing artwork for exhibition in one of our 'The Man Who Planted Trees' exhibitions, running across Calderdale from May to July. Parents are welcome to stay and support their child. Kids should wear clothes they are happy to get messy. This workshop is ticketed, and is on a pay as you can afford basis, with suggested donations from £1-£10. You will be asked to confirm your attendance the day before the session, as we will operate a waiting list if the session is oversubscribed. |
Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve Guided Walk in Elland
With Paul Knights Sunday 19 May 1-3.30pm Suitable for ages 14+ Come for a gentle, two-mile walk around Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve. As we amble on the accessible paths, we will consider the remarkable industrial history of this part of the Calder Valley, and its astonishing rejuvenation into a mosaic of woodland, wetland and meadow that has become the wildlife jewel in the borough's crown. We will see how a site once so used and abused can, with the dedication of those who care, be transformed into a thriving haven for birds and bats and bees, and also for people. Meet at 1pm at the Cromwell Bottom visitor centre, a short walk from the car park (if the car park is full, additional parking is available on the side road that leads to it, or, as a last resort, along the main A6025). We will arrive back at the visitor centre by 3.30pm, where refreshments will be available from the volunteer-run cafe for a cash donation. The nearest public transport connections are buses to Elland or Brighouse, or trains to Brighouse. From each, it is a pleasant 40-minute walk along the towpath of the Calder and Hebble Navigation to the reserve. If you would like more information and directions, please do get in contact. |
Resurgence: Todmorden: A Walk Towards Restored Landscapes of the Future (age 14+)
With Paul Knights Todmorden College Main Hall, Todmorden, OL14 7BX Saturday 1 June at 11.45am & 2.30pm (90 minutes) Offered as part of our Todmorden College based Community Creative Day from 11am-4pm. Meet in the Main Hall 10 minutes before the start time. Come for a two-mile wander into the landscape that surrounds Todmorden, and through the themes of The Man Who Planted Trees. As we make our way to the edge of town and into the fields, we will consider the long history of this place, from its wild natural past, to the coming of farming and the going of industry. We will celebrate the beauty we encounter, but also take a wider view of the diversity and abundance of species that has been lost. Drawing on the hopeful message of the book, we will think about what we stand to regain if, as Elezard the shepherd shows us in the story and local examples already amply demonstrate, we commit to the task of restoring what we have damaged with determination. In doing so, we will not only renew our relationship with nature, but also bequeath a richer and more resilient world to our successors. This two-mile walk will take in steep sections with a 150-metre ascent; uneven, muddy paths; stiles; and long grass that will potentially be wet. Ticketed, on a pay as you can afford basis. Suitable for ages 14+. There are only 12 places on this walk and you will be emailed at least 24 hours ahead of the event to check you can still come as a waiting list will be operated. |
Wild Clay Seed Bomb Sculpture Workshop (age 5+)
With Katie Bates Knotts Wood Room at Todmorden College, Saturday 1 June at 11.10am & 1.50pm (2 hours) Offered as part of our Todmorden College based Community Creative Day from 11am-4pm. Meet in the Knotts Wood room 10 minutes before the start time. A session to create wildflower habitats to benefit wildlife. We’ll be making sculptures out of wild clay and wildflower seeds which will be left to break down naturally, creating habitat and food sources to benefit insects and other creatures. This is also partly a citizen science project - it’s an experimental technique and you’ll be asked to report back results once you’ve placed your sculptures. On the day you’ll create two sculptures: one to take away with you, and another which will be placed locally to create a public exhibition, which will change over time and hopefully eventually result in wildflower patches. As we’re not firing the pieces, it’s an environmentally friendly way to experience working with clay, which should have the added benefit of creating habitat once it naturally disintegrates. We’d like to understand more about how successful the method is in germinating wildflowers, as the approach has great potential for community artwork sessions. During the session we’ll talk about the history of hay meadows in the Calder Valley and other citizen science projects you can get involved with to help understand more about supporting insect populations. Ages 5-105 welcomed to this session. Children will need adult supervision and the adult will need to book their own space on the workshop. |
Resurgence: Rastrick: A Walk Towards Restored Landscapes of the Future (age 14+)
with Paul Knights The Space @ Field Lane, Brighouse, HD6 3JT Saturday 15 June at 11.30am and 2pm (90 minutes) Offered as part of our The Space @ Field Lane Rastrick Community Creative Day from 11am-4pm. Meet in the Main Hall 10 minutes before the start time. Come for a two-mile wander into the landscape that surrounds Rastrick, and through the themes of The Man Who Planted Trees. As we make our way to the edge of town and into the fields, we will consider the long history of this place, from its wild natural past, to the coming of farming and the going of industry. We will celebrate the beauty we encounter, but also take a wider view of the diversity and abundance of species that has been lost. Drawing on the hopeful message of the book, we will think about what we stand to regain if, as Elezard the shepherd shows us in the story and local examples already amply demonstrate, we commit to the task of restoring what we have damaged with determination. In doing so, we will not only renew our relationship with nature, but also bequeath a richer and more resilient world to our successors. This two-mile walk will take in steep sections; uneven, muddy paths; stiles; and long grass that will potentially be wet. Ticketed, on a pay as you can afford basis. Suitable for ages 14+. There are only 12 places on this walk and you will be emailed at least 24 hours ahead of the event to check you can still come as a waiting list will be operated. |
Sending Seeds: Mono-printed greetings card workshop (ages 11+)
with Jimmy Dolan The Space @ Field Lane, Brighouse, HD6 3JT Saturday 15 June at 11.15am, 1pm, 2.45pm (1 hour) Offered as part of our The Space @ Field Lane Rastrick Community Creative Day from 11am-4pm. Meet in the Main Hall 10 minutes before the start time. In a relaxed environment, using simple mono print techniques, you will be supported by artist and educator Jimmy Dolan to create your own handmade greeting cards for someone you care about. We will take inspiration from 'The man who planted trees' . You will then have the opportunity to choose some seeds to add to your card. We will document where we are sending our seeds on a big and beautiful map. This will then be exhibited as part of our 'The Man Who Planted Trees’ exhibition running in Elland at Project Colt from 13- 27 July. Ticketed, on a pay as you can afford basis. Suitable for ages 11+. There are only 12 places on this workshop and you will be emailed at least 24 hours ahead of the event to check you can still come as a waiting list will be operated. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting messy / bring an apron. |