'Wellsprings of the Imagination' & 'Wild about Water'

A Celebration of the Still and Running Waters of the Peak District

This project was geared towards developing new interpretations of the significance of water to the economy and ecology of the Peak District and encouraging public access to the landscape around Tittesworth Reservoir and the newly created wetland areas.

Collaborating with a number of partners, REAP organised arts workshops in Spring 2003, culminating in a large-scale summer celebration, entitled 'Wild About Water'.

'Artists in Schools'

Education and Workshop Programme

Each participating school made a visit to a nearby river for drawing, information gathering, pond-dipping and discussions with the Peak Park Rangers and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, working with one or two artists over a number of days to interpret their findings.

Working with Earl Sterndale Primary School artist Lesley Martin lead explorations of the River Dove to produce banners and decorative hats to interpret the aquatic life of the river. Poems & creative writing provided lyrics for the river songs the children composed.

Longnor Primary School worked on the River Manifold with artist Paula Bowman to produce puppets of the mini-beasts they has discovered using their pond-dipping equipment and microscopes at the rivers edge.

Children from Blackshaw Moor Primary School explored the Churnet with artist Gordon MacLellan to create a multitude of river hats.

Westwood High students interpreted their findings from the Churnet with artists Imelda Hatton and Janette McSkimming. Creating willow and paper structures inspired by rare plant life such as the 'raggedy robin', the orchid and more common plants such as 'thistles' and 'lilies' to create 'lake and boat dressings' of floating and suspended sculptures.

Flash Primary worked on the River Churnet with artist Gordon MacLellan, creating flamboyant hats and a river dance to celebrate their appreciation of the river.

Workshops for all were a precursor to the 'Wild about Water' celebration. Using the field microscope to explore the 'hidden world within the water' for inspiration; inventive hats, processional pieces and a whole school of dancing amoebae were created as props for the graceful "Plankton Ballet".

'Wild about Water'

Drawing together all the products from the programme of schools and village activity, Wild About Water was an opportunity for members of the public to join local communities in celebrating water as a resource in the region.

Featuring celebratory arts and environmental education activities throughout the day, the 'grand finale' saw hundreds of children, parents, elders and visitors to the region as co-creators of the spectacle.

Lead by 'High Peak Samba', the carnival-like procession of 'river wildlife' drew everyone into a long dancing river cascade where the 'Boat of Dreams and Wishes' was carried along by the river current.

Processing into a great spiral whirlpool, primary school puppeteers performed their animal 'boogie'.

Flowing on into the 'Still Moment', the 'Plankton Umbrellas' took over and unsuspecting members of the public found themselves leading the whole company into a slow and graceful 'Plankton Ballet'.

With the atmosphere calming now, the company poured down to the lakeside where, magical boats, (dressed with the lantern sculptures of Westwood High School Students) rounded the peninsula and sailed in to the sculpture lined shore.

In a ritual blessing of the rivers, their waters and the reservoir, the 'Boat of Dreams and Wishes' was held aloft to be carried away across the lake.

Amid raindrops, icicles, and a cornucopia of colour and sparkle, the flotilla navigated its way through giant floating water plants and a burning water-lily.

Saturated now with tranquillity the hushed assembly had their eyes enticed to the distant headland where pyrotechnic sculptures of stars and raindrops ignited in flares of coloured fire and wafting smoke, taking our Dreams and Wishes with them.

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