Wildways along the Ching
The River Ching runs behind my house, it is kind of gross but also a beautiful and unexpected nature corridor that lends a sort of romance to our garden. My neighbour Clare and I often swap notes on the birds we see- chiff chaffs, the mystical egret and even one day a heron sitting at the top of a tall tree.
It was for these reasons that we decided to apply for the Wildways project. I am too lazy to type out the specifics of this- here is a link haha. But really it gave me an opportunity to work with my friend to make something beautiful, which we have wanted to do for a long time. Clare is a talented illustrator and designer. We have a lot of the same interests- children’s books, nature, going to the tip (this is a big one) so putting something together was a dream.
We are both big fans of Jill Barklem and the world of Brambly Hedge- growing up I remember being completely absorbed by the cosy world she built, it mirrored my own experience of being outside, playing in the river at the bottom of the field next to the house I grew up in, finding puffballs, making dens in the roots of trees and talking rubbish to myself.
Barklem was an incredible person, who took her work to the next level- something I don’t think everyone knows:
Jill immersed herself in the world she created. She was absorbed in the smallest details of everything from the blossom on a tree to the cogs of a machine. Her study and kitchen were both piled high with dried flowers, shells, nuts, feathers – anything and everything she could collect and use to inspire the Brambly Hedge world. A good cook, she made sure that every recipe for the wonderful food enjoyed by the mice at picnics and feasts could actually be made from foraged ingredients. She adopted the same approach to the mechanical implements she created within Brambly Hedge; all the machinery in the mouse mill and dairy had been trialled by Jill in miniature working models.
There is a practicality in the books that often gets overlooked, it’s tempting to think of Brambly Hedge as a bit cutesy or decorative but for me there is something robust about the books, the mice are making things, working together and have a real sense of community- in some ways it is a functioning anarchist society (yes you can laugh at me here, it’s fine!)
Perhaps it was this that made us decide to make a tangible object. Clare works with fabric in her business so made the suggestion that we print onto something a bit more interesting that paper- I had no idea what she was talking about but after a while I became very excited by the idea. A bedtime story printed on a duvet cover... of course!
The Wildways project has given us the chance to think critically about the area we live in. We have met so many good people who are working towards cleaning the river up, coming up with ingenious ways to help the existing wildlife (eel ladders- who knew?) and creating sustainable initiatives for the community. It has been an excellent experience, and I am so happy that we were able to take part. Thanks to everyone, especially the cast of the Ching Folk who can now go back to their everyday lives. Sleep tight lads.