P6 Sheffield Wellbeing Walk Brincliffe Edge Carterknowle Park

Listen to the poem and then as you continue through the wood, TAKE NOTICE how you are at this moment among these trees.

Amanda Palmer reads "When I Am Among the Trees" by Mary Oliver

When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves and call out, “Stay awhile.” The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say, “and you too have come into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled with light, and to shine.”

The study of clouds has always been a daydreamer’s science, founded by a thoughtful young man whose favourite activity was staring up at the sky.

Listen to the clip by Richard Hamblyn then see what clouds you can spot above your head on the next bit of the walk.

How did clouds get their names? - Richard Hamblyn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuW1jhxCgx0&ab_channel=TED-Ed

Here’s a chance to combine all 5 Ways to Wellbeing, TAKING NOTICE, BE ACTIVE, LEARNING about nature and yourself, chance to PLAY and CREATE and perhaps to leave a gift for others to enjoy too.

This is an opportunity to create a bit of ‘land art’. You may well have heard of or seen work by Andy Goldsworthy. He’s a British artist known for his site-specific installations involving natural materials and the passage of time. You might have seen leaves on a stream or a curtain of sticks carefully pinned together, perhaps ice or snow sculptures.

This is an invitation to step into his shoes as both sculptor and photographer, and to create a sculpture out of the materials around you, be they rocks, ice, leaves, or branches, then take a photo or two before nature takes over and continues the process of change. “It's not about art,” he has explained. “It's just about life and the need to understand that a lot of things in life do not last.””

As you wander the woods, focus on the objects around you. Notice sizes, shapes, colours, shades, contrasts, textures, reflections and dullness. Then collect some together and make a piece of land art that may last only hours or days. Take photos to remember and share it.

“Andy Goldsworthy is a British artist known for his site-specific installations involving natural materials and the passage of time. Working as both sculptor and photographer, Goldsworthy crafts his installations out of rocks, ice, leaves, or branches, cognizant that the landscape will change, then carefully documents the ephemeral collaborations with nature through photography.” (http://www.artnet.com/artists/andy-goldsworthy/)