Nature Together in Kempston
A project which aims to help people connect both with nature and each other whilst providing momentum in this community to retain a connection to the river.
Artists & Associates
Nature Together in Kempston: Creating, Caring Connecting is a project that uses art and creativity to help Kempston residents learn more about the nature along the riverbank and feel a sense of pride from taking proactive action to highlight river conservation through art. At the same time, residents have an opportunity to enhance their wellbeing through time by the river and with each other.
Through a programme of artist-led workshops and walks, participants are invited to collect natural materials and transform them into artworks that represent and celebrate the riverbank. Learning more about the local wildlife and nature can highlight what the risks and challenges are and what needs to be conserved.
Together they will then create a Community Environmental Charter that captures shared values and actions to protect the local environment. This Charter will be used to inspire wider community involvement and presented to the local authority as a statement of commitment.
Workshops
Through hybrid sessions (part outdoor exploration, part indoor creative workshops) workshop participants will collect and transform natural materials into a creative exhibition and use tools such as carbon-mapping to show carbon’s journey and its climate impact – nurturing stronger community pride and environmental responsibility.
These workshops are designed to engage residents from areas along the river, giving them a chance to express their connection to the water and contribute to a shared artistic celebration of the local environment.
Background
Nature Together in Kempston builds on our 2024/25 project River/ Flow/ Connect, which explored reasons why the Kempston community were disengaged from their riverbank.
Although many residents developed a deeper connection with the natural spaces around them during lockdown, consultations with residents and community leaders highlighted that the stretch of the River Great Ouse between the well-maintained Embankment and the wilder areas towards Bromham and Great Denham is less frequently used and in need of care.
By way of workshops, events and public artworks delivered as part of River/ Flow/ Connect, we made a start on deepening the local community’s connection to the riverbank. Through continued creative and artistic project delivery our aim is to open up a trail of artworks between these points that make the area feel loved, ‘levelled up’, safe and respected so residents can enjoy and feel proud of their part of the River Great Ouse.
This project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All England with support from our core funders Arts Council England and The Harpur Trust.
Photo credit: Andy Willsher
