Walking the Land is an artists collective that has been active in and around Gloucestershire’s Stroud Valleys since 2002 and more recently has active members from wider afield. We link landscape, community and art through projects, research, exhibitions, installations, writing and shared walks with numerous artists’, other professions and wider communities.
Upcoming Events
July 29th – Last Tuesday Café – Hosted by Richard Keating and Zoe Ashbrook. Join us for an evening of WtL updates and two project proposals followed by group discussion and conversation. Janette Kerr will share her proposal for “Ebb and Flo” or “Here and There” and Angela Summerfield will present a proposal for ” A Country Lane” project.
If you were unable to join us live for the call and interested in hearing more about upcoming projects please contact wtl@walkingtheland.org.uk requesting more details.
August 1st – First Friday Walk – Zoe Ashbrook is leading our August walk around Churchdown Hill, Gloucester. Discover signs in the landscape indicating the human history of the hill dating back to an Iron Age Hill Camp, a Roman Villa, St Bartholomew’s Church, Victorian tearooms while walking in the footsteps of 20th Century poets and composers Ivor Gurney and Herbert Howells. Enjoy time to pause and be creative while observing stunning views over Gloucestershire and beyond, and immersing yourself in the multi-sensory stimulus of this diverse Woodland Trust nature reserve.
If you are unable to join the walk in person Zoe has provided the following thoughts and prompts in response to her research and planning for sharing a walk in a familiar place. Please do share things you have found of interest related to your walk and images in the Facebook group – Walking the Land First Friday Walks and/or tag us on Instagram @walking_theland
Thoughts and Prompts – As creatures of habit, we often find ourselves following routines. We are hardwired to take the path of least resistance and our autopilot mode tends to guide our actions whenever possible.
A great stimulus for creativity can be to override the autopilot, deviate from routines and mix things up a bit!
I have walked Churchdown Hill almost daily since moving to Churchdown 14 years ago but in researching and planning for this FFW I feel as though I have seen the hill through new eyes. A place I felt was very familiar has revealed a history I was unaware of, and in deviating from my familiar route I’ve discovered a much wider network of footpaths, tree’s and plants not previously seen. At times it felt as though I was in totally different location rather than just a few metres from a well-known path. There was a new energy and engagement with the landscape as my senses responded to new observations. So my prompts for you would be:
- Is there a walk you visit routinely which feels incredibly familiar that you can explore in new ways?
- Do you tend to walk in the same direction? If so mix it up and observe how this affects your engagement with the landscape and observations. Is your sense of perception of place altered? What ‘new’ things to do you see?
- If you research the area is there a history you were unaware of? Does that new knowledge influence the way you engage and respond to the landscape?
- Are there poems, music, stories, myths or legends you can familiarise yourself ahead of the walk that might lead you to perceive and understand the place in new ways?