How can being close to nature help us notice changes in ourselves and our landscapes?

An Almanac for Cornwall

Real Ideas are delighted to be delivering a new schools pilot; Schools for All Seasons is a short- term residency in 12 schools that nourishes children with well-being activity and creativity rooted in our connections to the outdoors and our seasonal heritage.

By returning throughout the year to notice changes in our landscapes, this residency supports children and teachers to shape these seasonal experiences into poems, songs, artworks, stories and recipes, supported by Professional Artists based in Cornwall.

Embracing Cornwall’s rivers and sea, moorland and estuary, village and city, this programme takes the knowledge gained from our experiences of how to support children through change and challenge and our understanding of trauma and anxiety that has affected so many of us over the last few years.

The residency, commissioned by Headstart Kernow and funded by The National Lottery, creates moments of celebration, unique to each school to bring families together and share time outdoors. It aims to nurture and share individual talents, cultural influences, and viewpoints. We will learn about young people’s perspective of the natural world and engage with their understanding of our current environmental issues providing an immersive creative experience, culminating in live performance at Newquay Orchard (June 21st 2022) and a celebratory picnic feast and exhibition at The Eden Project (July 18th 2022)

Schools For All Seasons is a collaboration between us all – supporting a range of activity in schools, as part of a holistic approach to learning and the curriculum. By working creatively to support children’s mental health and wellbeing we can connect nature to the nurture of children, reflecting what they feel about an emotional closeness to the natural world, themselves and care for the environment. Real Ideas are excited to be collaborating on this project and connecting with schools to deliver the wonderful content from the partners!