Forward Footing - Test Walk 1 - Desborough

Through our contacts at The Green Patch in Kettering we were able to link in with a Health Walk Group that meets every Wednesday morning in Desborough and walks for about an hour and a half. The previous day we had scoped the walk and planned a route, seen an upturned car, walked through a field of ponies, explored a derelict farmhouse and had be halted but not stopped by a closed off right of way.

We planned a number of test interventions, including a mini protest, however once we met the group our route was guided by their knowledge of the area and as time was short we only conducted two of the test interventions - "Befriend" and "Platform".

Befriend - make friends with, make a friend of; look after, keep an eye on; be of service to, lend a helping hand to, help, protect; side with, stand by, encourage.

The group chose a stopping point where they worked in pairs, shared skills, made and altered arrangements. One participant said "I've never spent so long looking at an ash tree before".

Platform - stage, dais, rostrum, podium, soapbox.

On the second stage of the walk the group had really warmed into it so once we introduced the idea for Platform they spontaneously split off to work in two groups and then compared their creations.

The walk ended with a feeling that we had all discovered and created something, Carole and Jo were encouraged by the enthusiasm with which the group responded to the ideas and their genuine interest in the project.

There will be a gallery of the artworks created after all our Intervention walks have been completed in 2015.

Can You Help Us During the Grow Your Tenner Funding Drive This October?

During the past 7 years we have developed interesting, engaging, meaningful projects that involve the community in contemporary art practice whilst striving to support Wellbeing. We have conducted walks and interventions in Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Finedon, Rushden and Derbyshire and have made work in woods, on allotments, by streams, in an empty shop, on station platforms and on a community allotment. 

Through a recommendation from Northamptonshire Community Foundation we have an online charitable giving page on the Local Giving website and have heard that the fabulous Grow Your Tenner scheme is about to start a new funding round. Under the banner of Beanfield Artists we are able to benefit from the Grow Your Tenners scheme.

So with this opportunity in mind we hope to rally all our supporters, plus our past, present and future participants by asking them if they can help us during Grow Your Tenner. Each donation of up to but not more than £10 will be matched from the Grow Your Tenner fund.

A donation of £10 can be worth up to £22.50:

£10 donation

+£2.50 Gift Aid

+£10 Match funding

Total = £22.50

The £500,000 will be split into two pots of £250,000. £250,000 will match £10 donations as above while the second £250,000 will be used to match new Direct Debits. The first six monthly payments of up to £10 will be matched.

We have plans for exciting, innovative future projects and a small donation could help us make these plans a reality. You can find our Local Giving page here. 

Day Three - Ideas and Unpredictable Elements

Today was a work / site exploration day for Miles & Dacombe and we began by setting up sewing machines under the gazebo at the entrance end of the Green Patch which gave us a view of the soft fruit garden and the new play area. We whizzed through the bunting designs from Monday's workshop and then went back to the summer house to do a bit of DIY whilst waiting for our visit from Rachel McGrath from Northampton Community Foundation.

After the visit we had lunch in the summer house, listening 

to  rain falling on the roof, watching the parched earth relaxing

We discussed ideas and made plans, painted the ceiling blue

Tricky in such a small space

Made plans for pan lids

Admired a quiet corner

Got a bit hampered by the weather

Got quite wet 

which Carole enjoyed 

almost as much as the plants!