Community project to help boost nature recovery

Schoolchildren from Stockton took part in a project to inspire and boost long-term nature recovery, led with input from Teesside University academics.

Tees Nature Recovery Partnership (NRP) and Teesside University academics collaborated in the project, which aims to work with residents to understand their use of Tilery Park in Stockton and explore community-led future aspirations for local green spaces.

Children from Tilery Primary School designed animal costumes based on their interpretation of Tilery Park, working with local artists and Teesside University academics Professor Sarah Perks and Dr Paul Stewart on designs to show what they would like their green space to look like in the future, as a reminder of the importance of protecting habitats for local wildlife now.

The children showed off their work as part of a green space parade, which was filmed by Professor Perks and Dr Stewart, as part of their collaborative work as Forms of Circulation. They were joined in the project by local artists including Annie O’Donnell, Wil Jackson, Christo Wallers and Lizzie Mckeone.

Local community groups also shared memories and joined in with activities from bingo to sculpture-making.

Professor Perks and Dr Stewart, from Teesside University’s Institute for Collective Place Leadership, led the creative project and communities’ engagement as part of their research in curatorial and artistic practice.

“We are dedicated to engaging communities with local nature and connecting with living ecosystems, as part of our work as curators and academics," said Professor Perks, Professor of Curating in the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries.

Dr Paul Stewart, Principal Lecturer in Research and Innovation in the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, added: “We felt inspired by the multiple ways the schoolchildren involved in the project worked collaboratively.”

Emma Carter, a teacher at Tilery Primary School, said: “Our Y5 and Y6 children had a wonderful time learning about Tilery Rec and how it was used in the past, how it is used now and how they would like to see it being used in the future.

“It has been great for our children to be out and about in our community. They are incredibly excited about the parade and are looking forward to seeing the photos taken for Natural England. Tilery Primary pupils have really benefitted from this project and are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take part.”

Vicky Ward, Natural England Senior Project Manager for the Tees Estuary Nature Recovery Partnership said: “Good quality green and blue spaces have an important role to play in our urban and rural environments for improving health and wellbeing, nature recovery and climate resilience, along with addressing issues of economic growth, social inequality, and environmental decline.

“This project has utilised imaginative approaches to explore how local children, and other residents, perceive and use Tilery Park and the surrounding green spaces. Being able to co-create meaning through the arts, enables residents to participate by sharing their hopes and aspirations on how their local green spaces can be used and valued.”

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