Green UPLIFT 2025 - All things Spring!

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. 

 

We were all left very impressed not only by the Society’s knowledge but the range of equipment on show - their telescope being one of the best in the North of England. It meant that the images displayed were very clear, Uplifter’s were left buzzing from the experience. That or it might have something to do with all the sugar consumed on the bus journey on the way home, where we shared Solar System related confectionary! Starburst, Galaxy chocolate, Milky Ways and Mars bars, going down a real treat!

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 who founded ‘Other Ways to Walk’ in 2016 has developed her practice over many years to help manage her own health conditions. Underpinned by science and rooted in creativity, ‘Other Ways to Walk’ helps people to build their nature connection for mental and physical wellbeing and aligns perfectly with our Green UPLIFT ethos. 

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

In May we were invited to take part in the Voices Blooming Festival at Wentworth Castle Gardens 
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.

Keep your eyes peeled for our Summer update which will feature our entries on our more recent UPLIFT's which have included sketching at Barnsley Main, Land Art at Silverwood, a kaleidoscope of Butterflies at Wentworth, Walking with the alpacas and an allotment social! 

What a Summer!

Green UPLIFT's 2024 - A Picture Diary

 

As we come to the end of another year we reflect on the wonderful Green UPLIFT’s we’ve enjoyed. Here’s a picture diary of UPLIFT’s throughout the year that saw us getting wonderfully creative out in nature:

 

WALKING WITH THE ALPACAS

Back in July we had the pleasure of visiting Lower Coates Farm for an unforgettable afternoon walking with the alpacas. 

Whilst a group of UPLIFTER’s walked with these gorgeous creatures the rest of the group joined artist, Jane Lazenby and a herd of sheep in the field for a spot of sketching!

The sun shone and smiles were in abundance for this relaxing and uplifting afternoon.

 

GARDEN GATHERING 

In August we came together for our annual ‘Garden Gathering’ at the Carer’s Garden in Barnsley.

It always amazing to blend our amazing communities and the garden was beautiful in the sunshine. We created a ‘drumming circle’, led by Filomena who inspired us to express ourselves through rhythm and movement. 

It was an afternoon full of colour and connection, chilled and joyous as always!

 

LANGSETT

Next on the calendar was a trip to Langsett. We were joined by Queerecologist, Daniel Baker-Wells  and Park ranger, Rob for a walk around Langsett reservoir, looking at queerness in nature. Daniel and Rob shared their extensive knowledge about plants and birds, they helped UPLIFTER’s to identify different birdsong and Daniel who is an expert in mosses pointed out some fascinating facts about the moss in the parkland. UPLIFTERS engaged in lots of conversation about the habitat of the parkland and magic moments included sighting of birds of prey. There was sketching, photography and even time for a picnic. A real appreciation of nature came to the forefront of this lovely Green UPLIFT.

 

FORAGING AT WORSBROUGH MILL

As we headed into the Autumn it proved a great time to go foraging, with lots of berries and flora to be found. 

We joined artist, writer and professional forager, Hannah May Batley at Worsbrough Mill where we were grateful to also have use of the classroom. This allowed us the space to use the foraged items to create inks for mark making.

Hannah shared her extensive knowledge of all things flora, talking to us about the history, folklore, medicinal properties and pigments of the plants we encounted, as well as sharing recommendations for foraging safely. 

 Of the UPLIFT, lead artist, Helen Boutle says: "It was amazing to tap into just a little of the huge breadth of knowledge that Hannah holds and appreciate the rich properties and extensive uses of natures provisions. Truly inspiring!

 

REWILDING THE MIND AT VIEW CAFÉ

Starting with a hearty breakfast at the View Café in Mapplewell, this Green UPLIFT saw us in a green oasis on the outskirts of town, wandering around the local farmland and woodland on a ‘Rewilding the mind’ adventure with poet, Winston Plowes. 

Winston led the group in some poetry which thematically centred around people finding spiritual comfort through nature and nature being a religion for some people. An identifying feeling for many Green UPLIFTER’s. 

A great day was had by all!

STORYING BARNSLEY

Our final Green UPLIFT of 2024 featured a day of urban photography with 
multimedia artist, Sam Batley.  The workshop linked with Sam's recent Barnsley Museum's commission, 'The Town I Love So Well'. The project is described as a multi-generational project that aims to tell some of the stories that make up Barnsley, exploring the towns identity, landscape, culture and communities through film and photography.  

Starting at the Barnsley Civic, UPLIFTERS joined Sam for a walk around the Town Centre with the aim of taking pictures that told a story and lift the lid on what Barnsley is really like. For the commission Sam has compiled an inspiration booklet, a zine of his connections to Barnsley and photographs from the archives. This proved to be a great resource for the session as archive pictures were held up in situ to match the scene and show the now and then, past and present. 

During the walk UPLIFTER's took pictures of their favourite parts of town and it's architecture. As a group we then came back together to share the photographs and tell the stories behind them. They say a picture can capture a thousand words and this was certainly the case. Some ace pictures were taken which really captured the imagination of the stories behind them. 

Thanks to Sam for a great day, we look forward to seeing his work on this!

 

We’ve had a wonderful year of Green UPLIFT’s and would like to thank all our venues for hosting us, artists for sharing their creativity and expertise with us and our UPLIFTER’S for getting involved. 

We hope these outings have left you feeling uplifted and we look forward bringing you more in 2025. 

For now we will sign off until the new year and wish you all a very peaceful Christmas. 

May all your Christmas’s be white and your UPLIFTS green!

Music Meditation @ Wentworth Castle Gardens

 

Back in June we launched our 2024 Green UPLIFT programme and told you about our exciting plans for our involvement in the Union Jack community Garden project at Wentworth Castle Gardens. Fast forward to December and we're proud to share the fruits of our labour with you. 

The Union Jack Garden at the National Trust's Wentworth Castle Gardens is a restoration project which saw Creative Recovery being offered a small section of the geometric, Union Jack Garden that was first planted in 1713. Our vision for the garden was to create something that represents our community, to create a space to rest in nature and to inspire the garden’s visitors to look up to the sky. Our plans for this vision also included the creation of a nature meditation, a ‘sound piece to soothe the soul’.

Speaking about the inspiration for the garden, lead artist, Helen Boutle says:

‘‘Creative Recovery’s section is inspired by the wildness of nature and the freedom the mind can experience when ‘nature immersed’. Just to sit and leave your cares behind and watch nature doing it’s thing.’’

 Work on this began in August with UPLIFTER’s regularly attending the plot over the coming months to clear unwanted plants, and plant according to our scheme. With hard work comes progress, and thanks to everyone’s efforts we have managed to clear some of the mock orange which once grown back will be trained into an arch, pathways have also been put in and a stumpery is now in place. The garden is looking really beautiful, it will grow back with wildflowers and be more of a wilderness, which will attract little beasties in the Spring.  

Also complete is the soundscape for the garden. We were delighted to work with musician Nick Lewis who worked with a group of people over 6 weeks in a music meditation course funded by Barnsley Council public health. Together the group identified characteristics and features within the garden that they wanted to incorporate in the sound scape and workshopped ideas, words and music to design the piece. Sessions were also held at the plot to record sounds from the garden including the rustling of leaves, the footsteps of visitors, trees blowing in wind and the sound of birds. 

Nick has expertly edited these with music to create a very special sound journey to accompany your moment of calm in the garden, which is accessible for those visiting via a QR code on site.

You can also listen here: 'Nature- Nurture' Sound Journey. For Wentworth Castle Gardens.

On the 25^th November we proudly celebrated the launch of the garden and sound journey with a special 
group whose voices, music and words have come together to create something very beautiful and very special. We were blessed with blue skies and shared food and magical moments together in this wonderful space. Helen states:

“We have loved working with musician, Nick Lewis, who’s skill of weaving together so many ideas and talents, alongside the recordings, is actually incredible. 

It’s been a wonderful project, with so many of the people involved getting so much out of it.”

UPLIFT Central Area: Growing Positivity - Final Phase

 

It’s a little under two years since our UPLIFT Central Area: Growing Creativity project began it’s work on the ground and as we near the end of the year, the project reaches it’s final stages. Here is a run down of all the activity that’s been happing in the final phase of the project across the three targeted area’s of Summer Lane, Worsbrough and Gilroyd.

 

Summer Lane

The latter stages of the Summer Lane project was all about immersing ourselves in mosaics! 

Thanks to funding secured from the Barnsley Pride of Place, the first workshop took place in June led by mosaic artist, Coralie Turpin Thomson. Residents got a chance to explore ideas and themes with Coralie for the design of three panels which would see pride of place on the walls of Creative Recovery on the Summer Lane estate. Two further workshops went ahead in July to further develop the ideas and to begin work on the mural.

In terms of the design, residents chose the sunflower to represent their sense of hopefulness and the vibrancy of their community, it is also believed that sunflowers turn towards each other to reflect light upon each other in darker times. Whether or not this is true (we don’t know!) it’s a wonderful illustration of how individuals support one another in rooted communities.

We were thrilled to see the fruits of the Summer Lane residents labour as the mosaic was installed onto the Creative Recovery building on the Summer Lane estate at the end of October. It’s a wonderful addition to the building, it acts as a reminder of this great project and the hope shared by this brilliant community. 

Gilroyd

Throughout the project there appeared to be a consistent focus for the people of Gilroyd for the heritage and memory of the area to be preserved. This inspired an archiving project and led to the creation of ‘Gilroyd Life’, a magazine style community book, filled with stories, photos and memories shared by local residents, capturing the heart and soul of Gilroyd.

Working with the Dodworth and Gilroyd local history group, a history installation was held in the Summer at Dodworth Library which invited people to come and share their memories. Over the following few months many interviews were held with local residents which also feature in the book. Whilst words and images can tell a story, the artists on this project wanting to dive deeper and explore what life in Gilroyd also sounds like and so a series of soundscapes were created that readers can access via a QR code. Audio snapshots that bring everyday moments of Gilroyd to life!

‘Gilroyd Life’ was launched at the beginning of October at the Tea Pot Café in Gilroyd where it was brilliantly attended with lots of local residents coming to read and chat about the book, swapping of stories and sharing memories.  Janet, the café’s owner, treated resident’s to lavender scones and delicious homemade sausage rolls with sage, with both the lavender and sage being picked from from the incredible, edible garden -  a community garden next to the café where people can take whatever herbs they need -  both of which recipes can be found in the book! 

Artist, Rachel McGuin came along to capture special ‘youdle doodle’ portraits, a free little portrait for guests to take home. The book’s youngest contributor, Violet Askey, aged 8 who worked on one of the soundscapes was also in attendance as a representative of her school, Keresforth Primary. Violet collected a copy of the book, with each of her fellow pupils also receiving a copy, passing history onto the next generation.  

On reflection of the day, UPLIFT’s artistic director, Helen Boutle says,

“It’s such a privilege to work in communities like Gilroyd, spreading the UPLIFT joy and celebrating amazing people, their passions and heart. I urge you to read a copy of ‘Gilroyd Life’ and visit the Creative Recovery Youtube channel to hear the wonderful Gilroyd soundscapes. Thanks to all the amazing contributors, and to Barnsley Central area team and Arts Council England for funding this amazing project. A special thanks also to Lorna Szkliniarz and Steph Cronin for your passion and creativity.”

The book launch was a joyous day that brought the community together, very much like the book itself. Copies are still available to collect, free of charge from the Tea Pot Café if you’d like to explore Gilroyd between the covers!

Worsbrough

The focus of the Worsbrough project turned to performance and storytelling. Working off the back of an idea of ‘Worsbrough’s Got Talent’, events were planned for Worsbough that would focus on artists getting on the ground and being visible in the local area to meet and chat with local residents to generate the material for performance. This formed the idea for ‘Worsbrough FolkTales’ a series of pop-up events across the area for artists to capture the stories of local people to feature in music, performance and poetry, all shared at a creative, community event titled ‘Worsbrough Folknight.’

The ’Folktales’ pop up events took place in August, as we kicked off with ‘Pop up in the Parking Lot’. 
Pitching up outside Worsbough’s ASDA’s entrance with colourful tablecloths, bunting and a brightly coloured UPLIFT post box, we spoke to local shoppers. They shared their stories of Worsbrough with us over juice and cake whilst musician Ryan Lauder played acoustic music and jammed with shoppers!

Pitching up in Dale Park and Pavillion Community Centre we hosted our second event, ‘Pop up Picnic in the Park’. Performance artists, WE Great Ladies, joined us to interact with local residents to share stories with us. We connected with volunteers from the Pavillon community centre and participants at community group, She Shed as well as collaborating with Worsbrough Mill who brought the ‘Mill on Tour’ resources and tasty treats from the Millers Tea Rooms. Later in the day we popped down to Worsbrough Mill to meet more lovely folk and hear their local tales.

Lastly we had ‘Pop up Portraits of Worsbrough’ where UPLIFT artist, Helen Boutle led a wonderfully creative workshop in portrait collaging. We were joined by residents from the local care home, Ward Green Lodge and other local residents, refreshments were served, live music was played and stories collected. The colourful and creative portraits were used to form the design of a community teatowel that will be distributed around community groups in the area. 

With all the ‘Folktales’ gathered our UPLIFT artists went away and worked their magic to bring these stories to life in a  creative way at our ‘Worsbrough Folknight’ event in September. The portraits of worsbrough were on display as a wonderful backdrop and we had a fabulous evening with live music from Ryan Lauder whose set included the bespoke community song, the lyrics of which were taken from the conversations and stories captured at the pop up’s. We were once again joined by WE Great Ladies with the characters, Meryl and Beryl who performed a duologue: two Worsbrough women having a natter over the washing line! Once again the stories gathered at he pop ups created the dialogue for the script. Fun was also had as Meryl facilitated the room in creating a collective community poem  about Worsbrough, which went like this!

‘Worsbrough’ 

Where the hell do all the U’s and O’s go?!!!

Why is it so flipping hard to spell Worsbrough!!!

Worsbrough willow tits.
Wet Woodlands.

Picnics on the banks of the canal with two small children.

Bread and jam sandwiches.
Corporation pop.

Knocking on doers and running away.

Worsbro’ and school
Bog flushes and rules.

I went to Worsbrough high school. 

Can’t think of anything I learned there. Just liked the boys.

Climbed from bedroom window

and got dobbied by Dad’s friend having a drink in’t pub across road.

Rolling down Thicket hill on an old pram trolley we made.
Collecting Ben Shaw’s bottles to get some money to buy a record. 

The first time I kissed a boy it was on Red Hills down by the canal. 

We said we had been fishing.

I was quite the catch.

Worsbrough chippy. Peneth of chips and scraps. What a feast. 1970’s.

Annies tatty hash and pancake on a Sunday night after night out in Barrow Club!

Being told I (female) wasn’t allowed in the Elm Tree taproom in 1987.

Elm Tree pub, 1971. Underage pop and dance room.

I’m from Worsbrough. People here do sentences. Some get years!

I was wed in Worsbrough to a Barnsley lass. It was a Saturday, third of March. 

“Where theres muck, there’s money” (Lord Docker)
“Housework is like threading beads with no knot in the end” (Lady Docker)

I had my first snog in Worsbrough!

I was wearing a leopard print top and spice girl wedges – it was the 90’s! 

He later went out with one of my best friend’s for three years!

Got lost round Res, ended up by M1!

Get tha sen up to’ top rec at Worsbrough Common. 

The gorgeous view will mek tha feel brand new! 

The community tea towel is currently undergoing production, and Ryan is in the studio this week laying down a professional recording of the Worsbrough song which will be shared at future events and celebrations. In the meantime, you can catch a sneak peak of Ryan's performance here: 

It was a wonderful evening and a brilliant celebration of the Worsbrough community! But don’t just take our word for it, here’s what local residents had to say:

“What an incredible evening. Thoughtful and creative ways for bringing local stories and locations to life. Well done team and thank you for a fun filled event!”

“So warm and welcoming. Great way to creatively share stories and memories.”

“Phenomenal, wonderful, interesting, engaging, funny, entertaining, creative! Blown away with the creativity and thought that has gone into all the UPLIFT events! Just brilliant!”

We have recently submitted the final evaluation of this project, a project that was designed to realise a collective vision of a more creative, connected and healthier community in the Central Area of Barnsley.

Upon evaluation people commented that they felt listened to and taken seriously, they felt welcomed and new connections were made within communities with a chance to get to know new people who they may have seen in their area but never spoken to before. 

There were comments about feeling more at ease in their area and the activities providing something to look forward to. In some cases, people felt it had made them feel less depressed as they were able to get out of their house more. 

People felt it was good to know that there were others within their community that felt like themselves and wanted change.

 

People described the project as a safe space and a chance to develop their own skills (through training) but also confidence to carry on voluntary work in the future. There was also just the enjoyment of taking part in activities and workshops, allowing them to be creative, meet with other people and be part of something. 

There was a sense that the creative activities were more interesting to people and something that opened
up the conversations. People felt less intimidated than just joining a meeting as there was a reason to be there.

Those taking part also said they felt more connected with like-minded people in their area as well as learning more about what was happening and what they could be involved in within their community. The project provided people with motivation to do more, with Creative Recovery leading by example.

“You are the people who have done more in the 3 or 4 months I have known you than I have had from anyone else in the past 7 years”

The quote above is from a project participant and highlights that despite challenges faced during the lifetime of the project it has achieved what it intended do. That is artist driven, collaborative and targeted activities working with vulnerable communities who experience culture and health disparities across the three neighbourhoods. The project has made a lasting difference to those who took part and the communities in which they live.

We’d like to thank our funders and partners: Arts Council England, Central Area Team, Barnsley Council, Berneslai Homes, Barnsley Libraries. Thank you also to our amazing artists for sharing their talents and commitment to this project and a special thanks to all those who have contributed and taken part.