Podcamp – natural meets virtual with new Grizedale Forest trails

The second Podcamp weekend at Grizedale Forest was another success, with ten Young Carers aged between 9 and 15 years old enjoying a weekend stay in the woods from 25th to 26th June.

Artist Lisa Roberts led the way and introduced the participants to different creative writing techniques, helping the group – many of whom had never written a poem before - to generate 80 new poems in response to their feelings, experiences, caring livesand the sights and sounds of the forest environment.

The carers were taught practical outdoor skills in wood bending and knot making, which allowed them to collectively build five
forest shelters that will make up a new nature trail. They also learnt how to use natural forest materials to construct organic
jewellery, dream-catchers, charcoal sticks and other fun objects - with invaluable help from community artist Julie Roberts, poet Alison Ireland, wood-sculptor Charlie Whinney and Forest Schools professional Annie Berrington.

Forestry Commission Rangers also gave tours and talks about the environment and wildlife, including the rare Red Kite bird of
prey release project; which helped to inspire the carers’ poems, and develop new understanding and respect for nature.

The Podcamp residential weekends are now over, but participants will continue to send in poems and thoughts via text until
the end of the year. The Podcamp nature trail will also be developed over the next few months, and visitors to Grizedale Forest
will be able to follow the trail of five shelters with the help of a specially designed guide leaflet. By texting a dedicated number, visitors will receive text poems collected from the Podcamp carers, allowing them to enjoy a virtual trail around the forest as
well as a physical one.

“It was really an honour to have helped create the opportunity for so many first-time experiences. Living and learning outdoors, particularly in the forest helped the discovery of so much new talent in our young carers. Who needs classrooms?” - Lisa Roberts, Podcamp lead artist

Visit:http://podcampgrizedale.wordpress.com for more information, pictures and poems from the Podcamp weekends.

Podcamp is presented in partnership by folly, The Forestry Commission Grizedale, Art Locates Me and Connexions Cumbria,
and is funded by a grant from the Northern Rock Foundation and the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund (Community
Wildlife Programme).