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 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.
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.
Join us for the Nature Together Celebration Art Trail on Sunday 13th September
This free event for all ages is the culmination of our Nature Together in Kempston summer programme which creatively explored ideas for the Environmental Charter through community workshops and events. From 11am to 4pm you are invited to enjoy the Art Trail starting at Kempston Mill, and lots of other activities, including:
- Art Trail – a curated trail of artworks created by Kempston community groups and families with Anne-Marie Abbate. The featured artworks are all inspired by the river and nature.
- Scavenger hunt for children.
- Onsite workshops led by Anne-Marie Abbate
- Wellbeing Walk led by Rachel Hegerty – a guided riverside walk focusing on relaxation, mindfulness, and the health benefits of spending time in nature. The walk starts at Hillgrounds Sports Facility and ends at Mill Lane. Book separately here.
- Find out more about the Kempston Environmental Charter
- Bring a picnic – there will be a shared picnic space for visitors to enjoy food together
- Food and drink vendors
- Facilities – first aid, accessibilty and toilets
The Charter
Nature Together intends to nurture community connection through the development of a Kempston Environmental Charter by the community and stakeholders. Through the creative workshops and events we have explored the following seven areas for the Charter:
- Access – find ways to improve access, remove barriers and help develop the community’s confidence
- Biodiversity – inspire people to care for greenspaces and waterway habitats that nurture biodiversity
- Climate action – take individual and collective action to tackle climate change
- Safety – enjoy our greenspaces safely
- Heritage – develop knowledge and share heritage
- Celebration – nurture community through outdoor events and celebrations
- Wellbeing – inspire people to care for greenspaces and waterway habitats that nurture our own wellbeing
By exploring these areas, we all have the chance to shape a cleaner, greener, safer, and more welcoming Kempston. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have thriving parks and green spaces, abundant wildlife, and a healthy river teeming with life? That way everyone can feel a stronger connection with nature, a sense of pride in their local area, and a shared responsibility for protecting the environment.
Next steps for the Charter
The Charter will be created with the views and ideas shared by local residents, community groups, organisations, and public and environmental bodies through the Nature Together community arts project.
It represents our commitment to working together to improve and protect our natural spaces, support wildlife, encourage community action, and enhance health and wellbeing. Through collective effort, we can create a happier, healthier, and more sustainable future for Kempston and the generations that follow.
In the coming months, a set of charter actions will be developed to help make this vision a reality. If you are interested in contributing to these charter actions by joining the Steering Group, please email info@bedfordcreativearts.org.uk.
Workshops
Through hybrid sessions (part outdoor exploration, part indoor creative workshops) workshop participants were invited to collect and transform natural materials into a creative exhibition.
The workshops were 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.
All the workshops have now finished.
The community made artworks are brought together to create a beautiful Art Trail along riverbank at Kempston for a final celebratory event on Sunday 13th September 2026.
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
