Next week I will be working with 100 children on a shadow film, which will be seen by the public inside a lime kiln on Sunday the 24th July, near Millers Dale Station. This week I am making silhouettes of the fantastic landscape and wildlife at Millers Dale nature reserve, managed by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust. Millers Dale Station was very busy with five platforms until it was closed in the 1960s as part of the Beeching cuts. I am drawing on this history, creating silhouettes of the dramatic viaducts and of steam trains. I have had advice on the latter from the archivist at Peak Rail, Mick Bond.
Next week the children will make their own shadow puppets exploring their visit to the nature reserve and its history and will perform scenes for the shadow film.
Jennie Pedley
Monday 23 May 2011
ReplyDeleteI led a group of Juniors with teachers and parents, from their school over the fields and along lanes, through a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) down through the woods to the Monsall Trail and on to Millers Dale Station. Each group had a map so that they could follow the route and see where they were. They learned about map symbols, and looked for shapes, colours, flowers, leaves and trees all in preparation for Jennie Pedley's shadow puppet workshop. Many of the children were able to name familiar flowers including some of the following.
Water Aven
Ramson (wild garlic)
Campion
Early Purple Orchid
Cowslips
Wood Anemones
Meadow Sweet
Stichwort
Buttercups
Vetch
Poppies
We stood in a large circle in a meadow and counted as many species as possible. We walked in total 8 .75 kilometres. Some of the children said that they didn't think they had ever walked so far. At lunch time we were joined by the infants. We walked into the disused quarry, explored the top of a lime kiln and made lots of noise in the very recently re opened tunnel on the trail. Alison