Creative Project Launches With Floating Island
Young people from Ivanhoe College in Ashby and Castle Donington Community College will be helping park rangers to create a floating pond to attract more birds, insects and plants at Snibston Discovery Park on Thursday September 15.
The day’s activities will be part of the launch of a new partnership music and photography project designed to highlight the wide range of job and volunteering opportunities and leisure activities that are available in the National Forest.
The Footsteps in the Forest creative project is the latest in a three-year partnership between Derby-based orchestra sinfonia ViVA, the National Forest, Orchestras Live, North West District Council and Leicestershire County Council.
After learning first-hand about the importance of volunteering at key venues within the National Forest, around 80 young people aged 11 to 14 from the two local schools will spend the rest of the day with ViVA workshop leader Jack Ross and photographer Paula Moss – exploring the sights and sounds of Snibston and discovering more about the industrial heritage of the area now known as the National Forest.
Jack and professional musicians from ViVA will then visit the schools in the coming weeks to help the pupils compose their own songs and instrumental pieces.
Their work will be showcased at a public concert at Ivanhoe College on October 11 where they will share the stage with professional musicians from ViVA and illustrated visually by photographs taken by students and Paula Moss.
ViVA Education Manager Marianne Barraclough explained: “Last year’s project under this exciting partnership of organisations brought together classical music and dance to illustrate the magic of the National Forest.
“This year, the young people will be creating music and photography to show all different aspects of life in the area – from work to leisure – as well as engaging them with ideas of what they themselves could do to contribute to the vibrancy of the National Forest.
“The launch day is designed to inspire them through a practical project and then show them the work and leisure heritage that has shaped the diverse nature of the area today.
“Previous education projects in the National Forest have resulted in some truly spectacular work and we are looking forward to seeing the results of their work and imagination at the public performance in October.”
National Forest Community Liaison Officer Sue Anderson continued: “This year’s project is a wonderful opportunity to work with young people to show them how their own actions can make a difference in the National Forest.
“It is important for young people in particular to think about what is around them, how they can contribute and the opportunities available to them to both work in and enjoy the area.
“Through this music and photography project, I am sure that they will then go onto inspire and inform a wider audience of other young people, their family and friends who enjoy the final performance and learn more about the diverse benefits of the National Forest through fresh eyes
“I particularly hope that the practical skills that they will learn at Snibston will give them a taste of how they could give some of their time voluntarily to help with the work underway to create and shape a whole new landscape that enhances people’s work and leisure activities.”
The project has been supported by Rolls-Royce plc, North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicestershire County Council, The National Forest Company, Orchestras Live, T S Shipman Trust, The Maud Elkington Charitable Trust, Provincial Grand Lodge of Leicestershire and Rutland, Roberts Coaches, sinfonia ViVA and Arts Council England.
For more information regarding tickets for the performance, please contact sinfonia ViVA on 01332 207602.
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Media enquires: Sarah Jenkin-Jones, JJPR, Tel: 01332 515102/07951 945 665; sarah@jjpublicrelations.co.uk