An another year is whizzing on by and alongside our regular Creative Recovery programme we’ve been enjoying the Green UPLIFT which is back for it’s fourth season!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Green UPLIFT, this is a special calendar of unique & memorable outdoor events, designed by artists to inspire and uplift. We visit many of the wonderful green spaces in and around Barnsley and enjoy a marvellous mix of creative activities to reconnect with nature and enhance our wellbeing. Here's a look at what we've been up to!
Observatory
We kickstarted the 2025 Green UPLIFT programme with what
some might describe as an out of this world event!
Casting our minds back to the darker days of February we were privileged to visit the Hoober Stand observatory where we were hosted by three of the most knowledgeable amateur astronomists from the Mexborough and Swinton Astronomical Society.
They gave an incredible presentation which featured photographs of the solar system taken by the society using a variety of different cameras & special lenses. The images were simply phenomenal! On what was a beautifully clear, crisp night we were lucky enough to see Mars and Jupiter, which left everybody in complete awe. UPLIFTER’s described the sense of perspective that they felt when looking through the telescope and considering the vastness of the universe and the comfort that can bring.
Thanks to the Mexborough and Swinton Astronomical Society
for a fascinating UPLIFT that left participants awestruck and marvelling at the
incredible universe that we live in.
Blossom Hunt
As Spring was springing a small group of UPLIFTER’s gathered for a walk around Locke Park in search of the Blossom tree’s, enjoying an ice cream along the way!
The focus of this Green UPLIFT was to think about hope, flowers and new life. The flowers in bloom throughout the park provided the inspiration for a beautiful poem that was created by the group to be shared at the Voices Blooming event at Wentworth Castle Gardens later in the UPLIFT Calendar.
Here it is for your enjoyment:
We Have Much to Hope from the Flowers
Rhododendron
rowan
and rose
Hope is the thing that grew from a small seed
A green leaf on a tree
It’s chocolate ice cream with flake and sprinkles
That birthday once again.
Geranium
Gentian
and gorse
Hope is the red of a robin in snow
A faint double rainbow
It’s the bricks that built the town house by house
The friend’s name remembered.
Dandelion
daisy
and doc
Hope is a lesson from nature’s classroom
An ear of a stranger
It’s the light rain falling on the green grass
The warming of spring soil.
Petunia
poplar
and pear
Hope is a person who brings faith with them
A feather on the breeze
It’s the bright circles on butterflies’ wings
The unfurling of ferns.
Azaelia
almond
and ash
Hope is the light between the holly’s thorns
A wish made for changes
It’s making friends with something that’s unknown
The white flesh of the magnolia’s leaf.
Tiger lily
teasel
and thyme
Hope is wild garlic swaying in the breeze
A walk at Easter time
It’s the joy of days spent with grandchildren
The hot sun on your back.
By Beverley, Sue, Alfe & Liv, Diane, Sandra and
Winston Plowes
Forest Bathing
Here at Creative Recovery we were delighted to work with Rachel Massey from 'Other Ways to Walk' in a Forest Bathing Green UPLIFT at Newmillerdam Nature Reserve.
Rachel states:
“We’ve never been more disconnected from nature. And we’ve never been more
stressed. Science shows that even brief moments of meaningful connection with
nature can lower stress, boost our immune system and increase our sense of
purpose and wellbeing. But with the phones in our pockets always ready to
provide a digital distraction, it's harder than ever to immerse ourselves in
the natural environment our bodies crave. Other Ways to Walk teaches you how to
intentionally connect with nature, using evidence-based creative and mindful
techniques to improve your mental health and reduce stress.”
In expert hands, Rachel led UPLIFTER’s around the dam and into the trees for a day of connection. The day began with mindful activities – drawing a sage leaf which led to a tea ceremony with sage tea. View finders and special glasses were used to really take notice of the nature we were immersed in, listening to the sounds of the woodland, really honing in on the details.
It was a wonderful and heartwarming day. Participants spoke
of the feeling of being able to let go, to be surrounded by lightness and enjoy
the sound of laughter. So much so, there was a lovely moment whereby, upon our
laughter the ducks followed suit and laughed along with us!
Participants said:
"I was able to focus well, my mind wasn't wandering as much as it usually does."
“I go out quite a lot to be amongst nature but to experience
this as a group is very different, there is a commonality, we share something.
Shared moments. It’s special.”
“I’ve been able to open up with things that I’ve kept bottled up. I felt safe enough to do that rather than holding it in. Letting go of that shield that I always have around me.”
“I feel like I’ve been able to filter the negative out and
bring a lot of positivity into my head.”
“Nature has taken care of us today.”
With thanks to Rachel for a refreshing day out in nature. More information about ‘Other Ways to Walk’ and the services and resources they offer can be found here: https://www.otherwaystowalk.co.uk/
Voices Blooming
where we have spent the last 12 months nurturing our very own section of the Union Jack Garden.
We had an amazing day singing in the sunshine as three
brilliant choirs treated us to their sounds. Our very own UPLIFT choir led by
Jackie Craig were awesome and we loved hearing from Sheffield ladies choir,
‘Body of Sound’ as well as ‘Feels Like Home’ who had a written an original
song for the festival.
Our studio art group were also in attendance to see the props they’d been busy making over the previous 5 weeks in preparation for the festival. Big, bright, beautiful blooms that looked fantastic in the garden! One UPLIFTER spoke about the pride she felt at seeing what she’d worked in full bloom and the enjoyment it was bringing to others. The Union Jack Gardens were a real riot of colour!
Summing up the themes of the day, Poet, Winston Plowes shared a beautiful poem titled, “Hope Springs Eternal” which had been created by the words of UPLIFTERS in our earlier Blossom Hunting UPLIFT event.
With thanks to NT Wentworth Castle Gardens for inviting us to be a part of this wonderful event and supporting our studio group in the making of the blooms. It was a bright & beautiful day full of music, colour and joy that saw three communities come together and attracted lots of visitors to come and be uplifted alongside us.
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