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Blog: Think Global, Create Local

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We are a week away from the publication of a major report into the global loss of nature – the first comprehensive overview for more than a decade about global biodiversity and the contributions of nature to people. The Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services will be considered by representatives of 130 Governments in May.

Sir Robert Watson, Chair of the convening Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services warns: “The loss of species, ecosystems and genetic diversity is already a global and generational threat to human well-being. Protecting the invaluable contributions of nature to people will be the defining challenge of decades to come.”

The report, to be published on 6 May 2019, is expected to highlight the threat to humans if the devastation of nature continues. “I want people to know that nature is really important, and we shouldn’t destroy it, and it is absolutely essential to food, water and energy security,” said Sir Robert Watson. Some might say that nature is important anyway, not just as a ‘service’ provider for humans.

The arrival of our summer migrants, the cuckoo, swallows and swifts, remind us how globally interlinked we are. Advances in science mean we can now track birds on migration. PJ, The Kings Forest cuckoo, arrived back in Suffolk on 25th April having spent our winter in Angola. Several tagged cuckoos are still making their way through Spain and France. What do cuckoos eat?

Insects?

What has that got to do with Waveney & Blyth Arts?

We launch, in May, Bugs & Blossoms our programme of events exploring, celebrating and promoting action for our plants and insects. See our Bugs & Blossoms page for details of walks, talks, workshops and exhibitions.

The global dimension of the loss of nature can make it feel impossible, as an individual, to make a difference. But Waveney & Blyth Arts likes a challenge. Let’s make our two river valley landscapes, inspiring nature rich places to live and work. What can we, as artists, do to bring people closer to nature, to inspire action and to help reverse the decline in nature locally.

Join us at one or more of our events and share your thoughts and ideas. Let’s bring Bugs & Blossoms back.

 

Blog: Pakefield Postcard Auction 2019 – last call for artists

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This year Waveney & Blyth Arts is the beneficiary of the Pakefield Postcard Auction. We are delighted to be chosen and to confirm that monies raised will go towards Bugs and Blossoms, our new themed activities.

Our native insects and plants are in catastrophic decline. Recent reports have shown how many species are disappearing. Our children will not have the rich and diverse landscapes of their parents and grandparents’ generations, nor the vocabulary that goes with them.  We are losing the intricate mix of species that gave the natural world such richness and inspired poets, artists and writers.

In response, Waveney & Blyth Arts is launching Bugs and Blossoms, using the creative arts to celebrate our native insects and plants, but also to inspire people to notice what we have, understand what we are losing, and take action.

We will be promoting lots of events and activities over the next few years inspiring people to take action to protect wildlife under this umbrella title of ‘Bugs and Blossoms’.

We do not receive any regular grants so have to generate income through event charges and membership fees to cover our costs, and the general overheads of a small organisation. Without the time and effort donated by many committed volunteers none of this would happen, but we still need cash, too!

We are really grateful to all the artists who donate their original artwork to the auction, and recognise that this is a very generous gesture to support W&BA. The artwork is of a very high standard and over 100 individual pieces have been donated in previous years.

This is a last reminder, if you have not already done so, to please consider submitting a postcard sized artwork to this year’s auction and to help raise money for Bugs and Blossoms. To find out how to submit, contact Ferini Art Gallery – Pakefield. The opening hours are 11am- 4pm Fri/Sat/Sun 01502-562222 or email:

[email protected]

The closing date is 28th April 2019 so still a month for creative inspiration. You can create whatever you like on your postcard – submit a painting, pen and ink, pencil sketch, cartoon, textile, poem etc etc. It must fit within the dimensions of a postcard (6 x 4 inches) – oh and it doesn’t have to feature bugs and blossoms – they are just the beneficiaries!  

If you don’t feel artistic, then put the auction date in your diary and come along and support us by bidding for your favourite(s).

The live auction is on August 14th @ 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm at The Hotel Victoria. Look out for details on our website.

All the Bugs and Blossoms events will be featured in our brochure Celebrating Waveney & Blyth 2019 which will be available from at Palgrave, in the Ferini Gallery and elsewhere from Easter onwards. There will be a Launch Weekend (24 – 27 May) at Palgrave, near the source of the Waveney, with a talk and workshop on nature photography by leading BBC wildlife photographer Nick Upton, plus a walk inspired by the writings of Roger Deakin around Mellis, an art exhibition, sculpture workshops and a film. Over the summer there will be themed walks, Meadows Open Days with artists and writers, and an event focusing on moths and butterflies at Geldeston Locks.

Please join in and do your bit for nature. Be inspired to create artwork or create habitat and let’s make sure the Waveney and Blyth River Valleys are still buzzing with life.

Blog: Searching for Doggerland

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Almost two hundred people flocked to The Cut in Halesworth on Thursday 14th March to listen to a fascinating talk by Julia Blackburn and Hugh Brody, sparked by Julia’s new book Time Song – Searching for Doggerland. The talk was hosting as part of our regular Thrilling Thursdays! programme of themed, morning events, exploring interesting connections between people, place and nature.

Doggerland is the lost land between Great Britain and the European continent that was flooded when the sea level rose 7000 years ago and created the English Channel and North Sea as we know them today. Julia has been researching this for several years and her accounts of the places and people she met whilst writing the book were most interesting.

Hugh Brody is a highly-respected anthropologist and film-maker, and an old friend of Julia’s. He showed and discussed a captivating film about Inuit people living in the Hunter-Gather mode, which is how, it is believed, the people of Doggerland survived. Having lived there, and learnt their language, over thirty years ago he was able to comment on how changing circumstances are impacting on this ancient way of life.

The two parts of the talk, although very different, complemented each other perfectly and generated a host of questions which were very well answered. Overall it was a very educational and entertaining talk.

These are just some of the comments we received…

  • “Very high standard indeed, but not so academic as to preclude anyone”
  • “Waveney & Blyth Arts have added enormously to my art appreciation”
  • “All I had longed for as a child was one inspiring teacher and I have an intense desire to learn now in my thirdage. This event, and the easy professionalism with which W&BA led the event, was great”
  • “This was a fabulous event combining deeply affective strands of curiosity and storytelling”

Covehithe Capers!

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On Wednesday 8th August twenty would-be creative beachcombers – oh, and three very well behaved dogs – assembled at Covehithe Church to explore the ancient shoreline that had once been adjacent to ancient Doggerland, now submerged beneath the North Sea.  And on this particular day the sea reflected the blue of a breezy sky (most un-North Sea-like) and more akin to some imagined tropical Paradise.

Our happy bunch first sat down to picnic among the fallen sea-washed trees that decorate the Benacre end of the beach, but it wasn’t long before expedition leader Simon Raven had us using foldable frames to investigate shoreline detritus more closely – “getting our eye in”, he called it!  We each had to come up with one chosen item from our investigations and some of these were discussed as to their reason for choice.  Simon then shared some of his finds and small assemblages to get our creative juices flowing on the long walk down to Covehithe along the shoreline and beneath the cliffs.

After a while we reassembled at a place where Simon told us there had been a wreck of a clinker-built boat only three years before.  It turned out that one of the group had taken photographs of it, as well as of Covehithe in general, and he gave us his website address and file name for the photographic record – www.kbonnettimages.com / Recent Work / Time and Tide.

Here we shared our beach finds which included what were identified as 80 million year old sea sponges, now turned into flints.  There were also lovely bits of seaglass, holey pebbles, quartz, pieces of driftwood and an old rusting piece of metal that I will be converting into a contemporary life-style shelf!

All in all a fascinating day, full of information and playfulness, as well as time for contemplation – “very peaceful and relaxing” as one participant attested.  A great time was had by all.  Thank you Waveney and Blyth Arts for organising this opportunity.

Mary Cutts

Don’t forget – another chance to go beachcombing with Simon, this time at Corton, on 22nd August

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