Waymaking

Connecting communities with our wild landscapes

An OUTSIDE wellbeing project, April – October 2024

Waymaking, an OUTSIDE landscapes project, travels across the wilds of the Staffordshire Moorlands. The project will take local people from their towns to The Roaches and beyond.

Artists will work alongside an outdoor facilitator with local people encouraging them to explore their relationship with nature as they spend time in landscapes that define the Moorlands.

OUTSIDE is working with various community groups enabling people who are often overlooked and underrepresented to come together for a series of unique experiences designed to support wellbeing. There are a total of six sessions between May and October 2024, and we encourage as many repeated visits as possible, ideally all six and at least four.

What to expect

Waymaking sessions last for two to three hours, and are designed to support wellbeing by providing repeated, safe, enabling opportunities for people to:

  • Visit a wild place, as part of a small group.
  • Engage in artist led practices.
  • Learn about the landscape you are spending time in.

Though guided by an artist, sessions will take their lead from individual need on the day. This means that if someone feels weary, we will provide for rest. If someone wishes to be more physical, we will walk.

Alongside our artists are a small group of adults who know these special places well. A first aider will be always onsite.

Some of what is created will be recorded to begin to create a legacy of experience that can be shared with, and inspire, others.

What will I need?

Participants will need to be dressed for the outdoors. This means wearing sturdy footwear and carrying layers for warmth. A bottle of drinking water and snack are recommended. Everything else needed for the sessions will be provided.

Transport

OUTSIDE will help with transport where we can with pick-up points pre-identified. If participants can arrange their own transport that would help us to prioritise those who would find driving particularly difficult.

Registering your interest before joining is essential. If you would like to find out more contact Lorna via waymaking@gmail.com or call 07801 655272 for a chat.

James Brunt, The Roaches

James is a land artist who works with parts found in the natural world creating responses to the environment. Suitable for people with good physical mobility these sessions will explore the stones, rocks and other formations in the Roaches area and provide for education in their historical and cultural relevance today. People will be able to take part in land art suitable for the location.

Dates: 29/5, 26/6, 24/7, 28/8, 26/9

Times: 1.30-3.30pm

Details: monthly sessions led by James taking place across the Roaches

Car park and meeting point: the car park for this event is a well surfaced farmers field immediately next door to The Roaches Tea Room, Paddock Farm, Roach Road, Upper Hulme, Leek, Staffordshire Moorlands, ST13 8TY.

Access: the site includes well marked unsurfaced tracks and pathways what head uphill. Access is not possible for wheelchair users.

Toilets: there are no toilets at this location, but we do have use of toilets at The Roaches Tea Room where Mandy will direct you and make you a cuppa.

If you are interested in learning whether this is something you, or a group you coordinate, can benefit from, contact:

waymakingoutside@gmail.com

Supported by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the Roaches Tea Rooms

Eleanor Hooper, Lud’s Church

Come for a short and gentle walk full of listening, looking and exploring the landscape around Lud’s Church. This is a special chance to join a group walk once a month led by sound and voice artist, and lover of nature Eleanor.

Dates: 22/5, 19/6, 17/7, 21/8, 18/9, 16/10

Times: 1.30-3.30pm

Details: monthly sessions led by Eleanor taking place at Lud’s Church. Particularly suitable for people with limited mobility. The circuit is no more than 1km with pauses for sitting.

Car park and meeting point: the car park for this event is Gradbach Mill, Gradbach, Quarnford, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 0SU.

Access: the site includes well marked unsurfaced tracks and pathways that head uphill. Access is not possible for wheelchair users.

Toilets: there are no toilets at Lud’s Church, but we do have use of toilets at Gradbach Mill where there is also a small café serving warm drinks and snacks.

If you are interested in learning whether this is something you, or a group you coordinate, can benefit from, contact:

waymakingoutside@gmail.com

Supported by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and Gradbach Mill

Emma Dawson Varughese, Dimmingsdale

Emma is a Staffordshire Moorlands-based artist. She works in pyrography, using tree sections and decorative hardware. With a background in literature, Emma likes to weave words into her work through lyrical text. She draws on the natural world for both her materials (fallen trees) and ideas. Emma has created the resource Around The World in Wood and you can her work at storylogs.co.uk and worldlits.com.

Details: weekly sessions through September and October 2024.

Car park and meeting point: the car park for this event is located next to The Rambler’s Retreat, Red Rd, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4BU. Early arrival is recommended as the car park can be busy at times.

Access: the site includes well marked unsurfaced tracks and pathways what head uphill along waterways and steep-sided banks.

Welfare: toilets are available to use at the car park and a warm drink will be provided.

Eleanor Hooper, Dimmingsdale

Come for a short and gentle walk full of listening, looking and exploring the landscape around Dimmingsdale. This is a special chance to join a group walk once a week with your baby led by sound and voice artist, and lover of nature Eleanor; and outdoor facilitator, Beth Riley.

Details: weekly sessions through September and October 2024.

Dates: 10/9, 17/9, 24/9, 1/10, 8/10, 15/10

Times: meet at 10.30, sessions will last for about 2 hours

Car park and meeting point: the car park for this event is located next to The Rambler’s Retreat, Red Rd, Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 4BU. Early arrival is recommended as the car park can be busy at times.

Access: the site includes well marked unsurfaced tracks and pathways what head uphill along waterways and steep-sided banks.

Welfare: toilets are available to use at the car park and a warm drink will be provided.

If you are interested in learning whether this is something you, or a group you coordinate, can benefit from, contact waymaking@gmail.com

About Dimmingsdale

Dimmingsdale is truly one of Staffordshire’s hidden gems. This enchanting and beautiful valley is a haven for walkers, nature lovers and those seeking tranquillity and spectacular scenery. Forming part of the Churnet Valley in the Staffordshire Moorlands it is located between Alton and Oakamoor and is managed by Forestry England. Once an aristocrat’s dream, Dimmingsdale is now a delight for everyone. Stroll down magnificent drives built by the Earl of Shrewsbury, where fine carriages once rode. The rolling countryside provides an abundance of woodland, streams, ponds and lakes which will transport you to a place of peace and calm.

Free tickets to book your place HERE.

Supported by Forestry England in partnership with OUTSIDE. Funding partner Sport England and The National Lottery. And thanks to and the Rambler’s Retreat.