Out of Nature

Jules Hudson Talk on Walled Gardens and Lunch

Tue, 01 May 2018 15:36:11 +0000

Saturday 30th June (10.30am start): The Cart Shed's Literary Lunch at Newport House with Jules Hudson author of recently published Walled Gardens.

Join writer and broadcaster Jules Hudson and hear first hand about his fascinating voyage of discovery around some of Britain s most beautiful and productive walled kitchen gardens.

For centuries, walled gardens have provided a wealth of food, fruit and flowers for our great houses. Beginning as simple medieval enclosures, they evolved into powerful status symbols and centres of world-class horticultural expertise. Yet during the 20th century their fortunes failed, and most were lost or abandoned, as were many of the skills needed to run them. Happily, today many have been revived.

From the fairy-tale enclosure of Knightshayes Court in Devon to the garden that Churchill built by hand at Chartwell in Kent, from the recently revived garden at Blickling in Norfolk to the atmospheric ruins at Plas Newydd in North Wales, and the stunningly restored gardens of Newport House, Walled Gardens is the perfect guide for anyone who shares a fascination for these unique and enchanting spaces.

Well known for presenting the BBC s series Escape to the Country and Countryfile , Jules Hudson is an archaeologist and historian.

Jules will take guests round the walled garden at Newport House, and guests will be served a sumptuous finger buffet created with some of the wonderful produce grown in Newport House's walled gardens.

Tickets for the talk, tour and lunch are £35.

All profits go to The Cart Shed.

To book and for info: info@thecartshed.co.uk

Wrapping up Out Of Nature 2017

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 10:13:27 +0000

After a month of opening to the public, Out Of Nature 2017 closed on 29 October. We welcomed around 4,000 visitors from all over the UK and beyond, who had come to enjoy, see, feel, touch, walk into and in some instances, play on, over 240 sculptures exhibited around the gardens and grounds of Newport House.

Out of Nature’s prime objective was to raise funds for and awareness of The Cart Shed, a charity about which I am passionate and of which I am a trustee. It provides daily evidence of how “just being” outdoors in a safe and embracing human environment allows the body and the mind to restore, refresh and manage debilitating mental health conditions such as depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, substance misuse and anxiety.

Images from the exhibition linger on - of sculptures coming alive in the autumn light, of cosiness and yummy, wholesome food in the food tent, and of enriching encounters with visitors.

The garden and the sculptures brought awe and wonder. They were a portal into a natural world that is stunningly beautiful, nurturing, embracing.

Visitors commented that it was “inspiring”, “uplifting”, “breath taking”. Even on the rainy, chilly days.

It was heartening to see so many people of different ages, backgrounds and views share the experience: we live in a wonderful natural world, and it is there for us to dip into whenever we need it. Be it through delicious fruit and vegetables, the scent of flowers or dead leaves, through a walk outside with the dog… or through days at The Cart Shed.

We raised around £5,000, increased awareness of The Cart Shed, enrolled many new volunteers and continued to develop community understanding around the impact of poor mental health and what can be done to support those who live with it. What the implications of this experience are is yet unclear. But warm memories stay in one’s mind for a long time, like a teddy bear that can be pulled out when needed. Connections have been made.

May that awe, wonder and trust in natural processes be integrated into our lives more and more!

Jenny Watt
Newport House, November 2017

Heartfelt thanks to:

The artists - many made pieces for the show and transported them from far afield. Forty-three artists showed 247 pieces, most of them outdoors. Admire them here: www.outofnature.org.uk/programme/artists-2017 and in our photo gallery: www.outofnature.org.uk/gallery/out_of_nature_2017. Some sold, but some are still available for sale, please email us to enquire: jenny@thecartshed.co.uk.
The vibrant Cart Shed stand, manned by volunteers and participants from The Cart Shed, gave weekend visitors an opportunity try their hand at turning wood on the pole lathe, or discuss the therapeutic benefits of being outdoors with a member of the team.
Paula and Pedro cooked every day creating an array of different soups, quiches and cakes with produce from the walled garden – you can try their recipes for yourself! The food was served by an international team of enthusiastic WWOOFers, and by no less enthusiastic gardeners and Cart Shed staff, including CEO Katie Eastaugh. Check out Paula & Pedro's blog for recipes for the cheese scones, Hungarian mushroom soup, salted caramel tart, and all the rest!
Every person who worked on the show or who visited it; they all created the overall experience with their hard work and enthusiasm.
The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph for their support, as well as the Hereford Times and BBC Hereford & Worcester: www.outofnature.org.uk/press/coverage.

Some highlights:

Our events brought in people from different areas, with a different buzz every time. You can get a flavour of the activities on offer here: www.outofnature.org.uk/programme/workshops-and-activities.
Garden historian Kate FeluÅ spoke of the history of Newport House and its people: find out more about her book on the subject.
Sculptor Mark Richards took part in a conversation with Richard Heatly on what drives his work, in a talk initiated by the Powys Art Fund.
Mike Abbott and Gudrun Leitz organized a “Winds of Change” weekend on the warmest weekend of the month, with demonstrations of green wood craft and talks about how to manage woods and why. They invited some of their friends, such as writer Rob Penn, writer and photographer Archie Miles, and illustrator Jackie Morris, to talk about their work. Jackie spoke about her latest book “The Lost Words”, illustrated by her and written by Robert Macfarlane, celebrating and reinstating the ‘lost words’ that have been recently taken out of the Oxford Junior Dictionary, such as acorn and conker. It sold out within three weeks of publication.
Watch a video of the show! Out Of Nature seen from the air.

Out of Nature inspires photographers

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 22:15:19 +0000

Top UK garden photographer Clive Nichols had two hours of good light when he came in early September.

www.clivenichols.com

Nanette Hepburn has been a professional photographer for 10 years, after working on BBC documentaries.

www.hepburnphotography.co.uk

Andrew Legge is project manager at Newport House; he oversaw the refurbishment and building of the green houses, dove cote, library, parquet flooring, wooden panels in the billiard room and much more. He’s also a photographer in his free time.

www.andrewlegge.co.uk

Sean Crawford has a demanding job as adviser for the Government on rural issues, but sees himself foremost as a photographer and lover of the great outdoors.

www.facebook.com/seancrawfordphotography

John English is a friend of artist Ed Elliot.

Jenny Watt is organiser of Out Of Nature. As she lives on site she could rush outdoors every time there was an opportunity for a photo.

Retired Royal Navy officer and Cart Shed volunteer Phil Morris enthusiastically manned the Cart Shed pop up site during every weekend of Out Of Nature. This photo of his grand-daughter captures wonderfully the sense of wonder inspired by the sculptures.

Out Of Nature seen from the air

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 20:59:40 +0000

A huge thank you to Maddie Jones and Stuart Carter-Smith for making this wonderful video of Out Of Nature. In just a few minutes it manages to encapsulate the feel of the large and wide-ranging show...

Richard Harris's creations in wood

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 10:53:57 +0000

In his work, Richard Harris aims "to be sensitive to the needs of the place and the people that use it. The sculpture does not solely work as a visual image, but is there for people to experience, unfolding as they come into contact with it, creating a space that is symbiotic with its surroundings, yet 'beyond' a bridge between the physical and the spiritual. We all see the world in our own way. We each carry our own reality around with us – this interacts and connects with the personal realities of others."

His two pieces at Out Of Nature 2017 – 'Birch' and 'Bonfire' – embodied this aim. Visitors enjoyed the sculptures both from within and without; and at night-time the pieces looked even more magical. 'Birch' was magically lit up from the inside; and 'Bonfire' was finally burnt at the closing party, warming the celebrators as they danced.

Below: Richard Harris with his Birch sculpture

Below: Close up of the joints used to create 'Birch'. Photo credit: Catherine Campbell.

Richard Harris hollowing out the middle of 'Bonfire'

'Birch' lit up spectacularly from the inside at night

Clare Parry-Jones' Alarch

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 10:36:19 +0000

The final performances of Clare Parry-Jones' performance piece Alarch took place over the weekend of 21st and 22nd October at Out Of Nature sculpture show, with participation from Hereford College of Arts students, and incorporating the beautiful boats of Helen Malia on the edge of the lake!

Alarch is inspired by ancient Swan myths, a mesolithic grave and Clare's personal experience of loss and transformation.

“I was amazed to witness how Clare created an atmosphere and set the scene without moving an eyelid. It was as if she had switched something on inside which rippled through the public, instantly creating emotion and a nearly sacred space." – Audience member

Photographs: Sean Crawford Photography & Henri Allen

Bonfire and music to close the show

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 10:15:21 +0000

28th October. The end of Out Of Nature was celebrated… out in nature.

Richard Harris’ Bonfire was lit up, and provided the perfect background for a BBQ and a dance party, to the sound of DJ Supersonic’s rhythms.

Richard Harris also lit “Birch” with an electric torch from inside – the rays of light dancing through the smoke onto the trees created a mesmerising show.

'Transforming Trees, Transforming People'

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:31:46 +0000

On Saturday 14th October a panel discussion took place at Out of Nature as part of the Wind of Change weekend. The subject was ‘Transforming Trees, Transforming People’.

Here is a transcription of some passages very kindly recorded by Brontë Woodruff.

Much of the conversational format was kept and not everything was transcribed; this explains the sometimes haphazard juxtaposition of ideas.

Participants in the discussion included green wood furniture maker and tireless tutor Mike Abbott, and arctic explorer, tree surgeon and sculptor Glenn Morris, both part of the Out of Nature Sculpture Exhibition 2017.

Also Katie Eastaugh, CEO of The Cartshed, Toby Allen of Say it with Wood, Rob Penn, journalist and small woodland owner, author of The Man Who Made Things Out Of Trees, and Matt Larsen Daw, Project Leader, Tree Charter for The Woodland Trust.

Also present and instrumental in organising the discussion was furniture maker, teacher and Out Of Naure exhibitor Gudrun Leitz.

Informed members of the public from various sectors also made contributions to the discussion.

Photo: left to right: Rob Penn, Mike Abbot, Toby Allen, Katie Eastaugh, Matt Larsen Daw, Glenn Morris

Mike Abbott introduced the weekend, highlighting just how important wood has always been to society...including beech and hornbeam, their natural antiseptic qualities employed as butcher's blocks…how historically forges were often near horse chestnut trees, as they offered shade, both to the horses and to the blacksmith...and how the leaf scars on the horse chestnut were even horseshoe shaped.

Glenn Morris gave an informative and witty talk about his part in the clear-up job in Sevenoaks after the Great Storm...he was at that time based in the epicentre.

Matt Larsen Daw of The Woodland Trust spoke of the 1217 Charter of the Forest, and about the 800 year celebration that was celebrated on 6th November at Lincoln Castle.

You can listen to his words here.

Members of the panel introduced themselves, and their various angles. Various points emerged.

Rob Penn highlighted the importance of trees, and how there were 45 uses for ash wood, including tool handles, pegs, baseball bats. A BBC programme about restoring old woodland highlighted his concerns, and how the tree has played a huge part in the history of civilisation. How its continuity contrasts with the current greed for immediacy, the new.

Toby Allen of Say it with Wood highlighted how 50% of UK woodland is quite simply not managed. How there are new ways to use woodland.

Katie Eastaugh of The Cartshed talked of her time with the Small Woods Association. She described how it was important to make woodland viable, not just for its timber, but for the other benefits it can offer...the now scientifically recognised health benefits, and craft related projects. As CEO of The Cart Shed, she can offer quantifiable justification for the use of woodlands for occupational therapy. 'Transforming Lives' is not just a catchphrase (it is The Cart Shed's motto). The mental health of the nation deteriorated around 150 years ago with mechanisation. People were removed from the land, from their connection with trees, nature. An alarming and increasing number of young people suffer from anxiety, self harming, anorexia.

Matt Larsen Daw confirmed the Woodland Trust's belief in the health benefits of trees...how integral trees are to mental wellbeing. It is now scientifically proven that spending time among trees is beneficial to mental health. Not just the trees, but the whole experience…the peace, the birdsong, the environment...psithurism – the sounds of wind through trees, which fundamentally relaxes the brain. How crime rates are lowered with trees in built up spaces; wood grain in internal spaces has a positive impact. Plastic should be replaced. Wood is important...it is real. Tangible. Natural. A council estate without a tree in sight is soulless. It is diminishing. The presence of trees has a profound and uplifting effect.

Glenn Morris speaks of State of Nature (a report published by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 2016 denouncing the rapid declining of species) in more general terms...with a backdrop of Brexit and nuclear war...it is NOT just trees, there are so many good charities looking after birds, bees, animals etc...but they all need to be linked up...not one of them individually will make a real difference...all these bodies need to join up, talk and act.

A member of the public spoke of too much health and safety...but added that there is a pendulum swing away from protecting kids from danger...kids are now being encouraged to learn how to climb trees safely, use tools safely.

Toby Allen suggested linking in 'Teaching trees' with the curriculum: measuring trees can be part of learning maths, etc...he suggested academic underachievers might be pointed in the direction of trees; he also regretted a lack of schooling outside for kids with real scientific interest.

Glenn Morris pointed out that the Oxford English Dictionary left out hazel, bluebell etc, replacing them with social media and technical terms. [Indeed Jackie Morris eloquently illustrated the subject in her book Lost Words, recently co-published with Robert Macfarlane, and she spoke about it at Out of Nature Sunday 15th October.]

Rob Penn noted the UK was the only country NOT to have a major forest industry. Our woods are in the wrong hands.

Matt Larsen Daw felt in a sense that this is being addressed in the Tree Charter.

Rob Penn commented that 90% of woods are in family holdings.

Matt Larsen Daw suggested career paths are needed to incentivise young people to go out into the woods...there is a huge skills gap...an audit is currently underway. Trees in landscape, not just woods, forests, hedges, roadsides, etc...raising awareness of what opportunities there are. Invisibility of opportunities in this sphere becoming self fulfilling prophecy. (Land management, arboriculture, health and well being, access.)

All woods need to be well managed, but government needs to incentivise management and/or penalise non-management, i.e. make it economically unviable by penalising for irresponsible management/neglect.

Toby Allen commented that big estates, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, could all be better but aren't doing badly...but generally the under-managed woodlands are the small parcels (50% are small).

Katie Eastaugh remarked that education is important, but specifically focussing on woods/woodland training is wrong...kids need all – arts, literature, natural world etc, which they are being increasingly deprived of...but they need not necessarily focus on one of them vocationally. This can destroy creativity.

Toby Allen noted that man has been intervening within woodland for 1,000 years. His coppicing, etc, has created light, wildlife has evolved around man managing the habitat. This encouraged a dynamic habitat: if management stops, woodland is vulnerable to disease. Historically, woodland has provided products, shelter, food, stories...

Rob Penn commented that biodiversity has decreased.

Glenn brought a ray of hope and said a new butterfly species was spotted after the Great Storm of 1987.

Matt Larsen Daw said that 13, maybe 14, per cent of the UK is woodland, but just 2 per cent is ancient woodland...so planted trees all reach same age together...we need a difference in ages, etc, to create biodiversity. Ancient woodland exists because it was managed, so coppicing is beneficial...maintained woodland is generally airier than modern woodland. Celtic rainforests a rare example of ancient woodland which is as dense and wild as people imagine ancient woodland to be – as opposed to most which are lighter and populated with younger or coppiced trees.

The compartmentalisation of the country into agriculture, forestry, nature reserves etc is NOT sustainable.

Glenn Morris mentioned wood pasture, and forest farming.

Matt Larsen Daw said the Woodland Trust is facing an issue: it is a struggle to get site managers and to get people trained. The focus has been on minimal management and on public access; the Woodland Trust is now trying to find opportunities for small sites relevant to local areas. E.g. Hill V Woods, Lincolnshire...a social enterprise with one wood manager; diversified into mental health and actively managed. The Woodland Trust aims to increase that in other areas.

There are some exceptions to increased management...in some small ancient woodland certain species depend on non-management.

The Woodland Trust is also no longer focussing on increasing the size of their estate, rather they concentrate on advising and facilitating adequate management of existing sites, and make sure that every new tree planted is properly managed.

Rob Penn notes that the UK is the third largest importer of wood...we need to rebuild native timber industry.

Toby Allen remarks that we haven't evolved the usage of our timber. There needs to be a renaissance of wood culture.

Glenn Morris said it was a wider problem than wood...nature in general is in decline.

A member of the public said we need to reconnect with trees. He teaches at Stourbridge: greenwood to 16–25 year olds with autism and special needs...What is needed is to nurture love for trees in our society, and be stewards of the land...not rape and pillage it. To encourage and involve local communities.

Jenny Watt stated Out Of Nature is really about giving the public a reason to be outdoors and take in the sights and the smells. It approaches the situation through pleasure not a stick.

Katie Eastaugh said the Tree Charter has arguments interesting to us here, but 100,000 signatures will only generate debate in Commons. A bigger promotion is needed...people see trees as a threat to property in urban environments. There is a need to change and win hearts and minds. A social media person could tap into public conscience.

She added that orchards had not been mentioned, nor apples. They are an accessible way in to tree connection.

A member of the public said that connection to land and farming and forestry needs to be made sexy again. For every tractor, 10 people are taken off the land. He suggests redistribution of land with smaller plots to be more economically viable...this applies to both forestry and farming.

Glenn Morris asked HOW to redistribute land. â

Matt Larsen Daw said that the Wildlife Trust and other land owners can show how woods can be self sustaining. Other large land owners will follow suit. The Wildlife Trust need to be the pioneers of managing the land.

Rob Penn spoke of the National Trust doing good work: forestry has become Scotland's most valuable asset.

Toby Allen suggests taking woods into cities...because they have not been managed, there are lots of unviable woods...We should put wood products into town people's houses.

Matt Larsen Daw said we can use taxes on woods: there is a 90% tax reduction on sustainable woodland, so big owners either sort it out themselves, parcel it off to smaller holders to manage, or sell it.

Woodlands need protection.

We must promote the use of wood, reinforce the 'Grown in Britain' label, to raise profile of wood.

The Cart Shed and Out of Nature

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 22:05:25 +0000

The Cart Shed was central to the show.

Not only as the charity benefiting from all the extra profile, but also as the ardent advocate of the benefits of being outdoors. Volunteer Phil Morris, trustee Bill Jackson, chairman Patrick Wrixon and many others were tireless in their mission.

It also supplied much needed volunteers on weekends: CEO Katie Eastaugh and project manager Cindy Watson spent the last weekend serving and washing up! Beats writing funding proposals?

Photo: Bill on drawknife, Kirsten on violin, Ray on the spatula, Phil on whittling knife and Gaynor completing the ensemble with her crook knife.

Photo: Allan, Phil and Richard on the left.

Photo: Trustee Bill Jackson on the right engaging tirelessly with the public.

Photo: Cart Shed CEO Katie Eastaugh and project manager Cindy Watson.

Newport House gardeners

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:57:07 +0000

There was a definite sense of purpose among the team during Out Of Nature. Just as well – not only did the garden need tending, but also the sculptures needed to be wiped every day, tickets sold at the entrance, food served and cleared, the shop manned.

Photo: Left to right, top then bottom: Jes George, Murray Kenyon, Kevin Evans, Mike Weston, David Gray, Darren Wyatt, Maggie Gray (Lynette Choppin-Woods is missing from the photo)

Out Of Nature's delicious recipes

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 21:45:29 +0000

Paula and Pedro cooked for 4,000 visitors in October for Out Of Nature. Mention “cheese scones”, or “Hungarian mushroom soup”, or “salted caramel tart”, and you may see eyes (and mouth) watering.

Paula and Pedro generously share their recipes here: https://wwoofingaround.blogspot.co.uk/p/out-of-garden-recipies.html?spref=fb

Photo: Pedro and Paula concentrating deeply, in the kitchen they hardly left in one month!

Photo: Pedro and Paula having a well-earned rest from the kitchen...

The Wind of Change: a sunny celebration of Wood

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 21:34:33 +0000

The Wind of Change events took place across the weekend of 14–15 October. In Mike Abbott's words: "In my 32 years as a professional green woodworker, I don't think I have ever taken part in a more loving and blissful event, surrounded by the most friendly, positive and creative bunch of people in the most beautiful surroundings imaginable. I shall especially remember the kitchen team who invariably had one of my favourite Pearl Jam songs playing whenever I stuck my head through the door!"

For those who are not familiar with the cosy world of green wood, Mike has quite a following in the UK and abroad, and his book on how to make green wood chairs is in its 9th edition. He masterfully organised a weekend of panel discussions and demonstrations (chair, spoon, bowl and clog making), as well as invited Jackie Morris to talk about her book Lost Words, co-written with Robert Macfarlane, and Archie Miles to talk about his book on ancient trees (some of which are no bigger than a strawberry plant!).

Photo: Brilliant sign painted by our Swedish WWOOFer Sana.

Photo: Lewis Goldwater whittling away. Lewis works at The Cart Shed occasionally.

Photo: Mike Abbott demonstrating an awesome apple peeler/slicer.

Photo: Panel discussion on why manage woods, how to manage woods, how to get people out in woods, how to encourage our children to go to the woods.

Photo: The illustrious panel: writer and journalist Rob Penn, green wood chair maker Mike Abbot, green wood maker Toby Allen, Cart Shed managing director Katie Eastaugh The Woodland Trust representative (in charge of the Tree Charter) Matt Larsen-Daw, artist and tree surgeon Glenn Morris, who chaired the panel.

Photo: Evening moment of relaxation for the catering team, and ceramicist Julia Hilton.

Photo: The morning after.

Photo: Jackie Morris has everyone spellbound as she twists and turns words and images like a magician. She read from Lost Words co-written with Robert Macfarlane, and Mrs Noah's Pockets. Tamsin Abbott on the right.

Photo: The green wood guru, Mike Abbott, basking in the Herefordshire morning sun.

Come to Out Of Nature for the food alone!

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 20:46:32 +0000

Our food tent and the food at Out Of Nature are reasons to come in themselves. Prepared and served by the enthusiastic team of WWOOFers (Joanna, San, Darida, Pedro and Paula), the food is different every day, and made with organic produce from the walled garden.

A fantastic team, fabulous food ... and you can even draw on the tablecloths!

Jon Edgar completes Cart Shed sculpture

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 20:24:20 +0000

How appropriate that Out Of Nature sculptor Jon Edgar finished his piece on The Cart Shed just in time for World Mental Health Day on Tuesday 10 October.

Jon has just spent 10 days in the gardener's cottage at Newport House, sculpting a piece of lime to represent how the Cart Shed inspires him. He spoke with Cart Shed clients, about their sense of despair and feeling stuck in a tunnel, of feeling held and supported.

He documents this process in his blog: https://cartshedsculpture.wordpress.com

More info about Jon Edgar: http://www.outofnature.org.uk/artists/jon_edgar_2017

All profits from Out Of Nature are donated to The Cart Shed: www.thecartshed.co.uk

The Queen's Award for Cart Shed Volunteers

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 21:50:24 +0000

Last week The Cart Shed officially received The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, presented by Lord Lieutenant Lady Darnley to Cart Shed volunteers Roland and Jenny.
A great accolade indeed for a very dedicated and passionate team of volunteers.

All profits made by Out of Nature are donated to The Cart Shed.

Photo: The large Cart Shed family and Lady Darnley, in front of Newport House.

Photo: Lady Darnley, volunteers Roland Shiner and Jenny Kelleher, Cart Shed chairman Patrick Wrixon.

Out Of Nature 2017 kicks off in style

Thu, 05 Oct 2017 11:46:39 +0000

The artists of Out Of Nature came in full force for the preview last Saturday, some sleeping in caravans, others bell tents (others in more luxury). They were able to meet their peers as well as share their passion with members of the public.

There was lots to do, with two large land art pieces being built: one by professional land artist Kate Raggett, who has now created a land art drawing at Out Of Nature for the 3rd time, this time with our apples. She also mentored a Cart Shed volunteer for the 2nd time: volunteer and artist Florence Boyd invited visitors to add their touch of colour and texture to a honeycomb drawing, using fruit and vegetables from the walled garden.

Clare Parry-Jones led a very moving procession across the gardens on both days, and was accompanied by students of the Hereford College of Arts on Sunday.

Violinist Kirsten Hellier played to the sculptures, and performed a Sonatine by Adrian Williams, composed for Out Of Nature.

The Cart Shed has a site in the gardens every weekend, and encourages visitors to try their hand at the pole lathe and find out more about its therapeutic activities in the woods.

The food tent was a welcome shelter when the skies opened, and the delicious finger food and prosecco kept everyone feeling jolly. The food tent is a new addition to Out Of Nature, and is the perfect place to recharge with warm and wholesome homemade food and drinks made by Pomme Pomme Foods.

Artists (from left to right): Mark Stonestreet, Neil Ferber, Kim Francis, and Neil's wife Jacklyn Jones.

Cart Shed trustee Bill Jackson (on the right).

Lots of concentration by the catering team led by Orla Henning.

The Cart Shed's Florence Boyd encouraging people to participate in land art using produce from the gardens.

Artist Clare Parry-Jones in her performance piece, 'Alarch', which is Welsh for 'swan'.

Kate Raggett's beautiful land art piece using apples from the gardens.

The Cart Shed's demonstration area with wood working and basket weaving.

A visitor having a go at pole-lathe turning with The Cart Shed.

Sculptor Lottie O’Leary showing how to brave the rain!

Photos: Andrew Legge and Jenny Watt.

'Sonatine' premiere at Out of Nature

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 11:04:24 +0000

Herefordshire-based violinist Kirsten Hellier playing ‘Sonatine’, created by composer Adrian Williams specifically to be played by her at Out Of Nature.

The piece will be premièred during the Preview, on Saturday 30th September. Come and listen, it is very beautiful!

Nature's Hospital

Mon, 25 Sep 2017 10:54:58 +0000

People who visit The Cart Shed (the charity in whose aid Out Of Nature is organised) are often moved by the calm peaceful atmosphere, and love sitting by the fire, and soaking in the smells (of fire and vegetable soup cooking), the sounds (birds, wind, chatter), the feelings (the warmth of the fire, the stroke of the wind)... Mona Kim is an American lady who stayed at Newport House over three weeks this summer to volunteer in the walled garden as past of the WWOOF programme (World Wide Opportunities for Organic Farming).

She wrote and photographed this gorgeous article on The Cart Shed after she visited.

Read her article, ‘Nature's Hospital’www.moowon.com/stories/nature-s-hospital

Jon Edgar represents The Cart Shed in sculpture

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:07:29 +0000

Sculptor Jon Edgar will be artist in residence for the first 10 days of Out Of Nature 2017: we asked him if he could represent what The Cart Shed was about in sculpture form.

A piece which would help people instantly recognise the pain the clients endure, and possibly how and why being outdoors in the woods within a safe human environment helps.

Jon has taken his task seriously, delving deep into himself, and quizzing friends about depression and other low feelings.

He very suddenly lost his father in July, bringing about for him the very feelings of grief and loss that some Cart Shed clients experience.

He writes very candidly about his journey towards understanding mental health issues in his blog: https://cartshedsculpture.wordpress.com

He would also welcome any image, metaphor or words associated with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar condition, or other mental health conditions. If you can contribute some, please email him on jon@jonedgar.co.uk – you will be contributing a lot to the ‘Cart Shed sculpture’.

Halima Cassell: Things of Beauty Growing

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:34:30 +0000

Artist Halima Cassell (showing this year at Out Of Nature) is in New York at the moment, visiting the Yale Centre for British Art where she is showing in the exhibition ‘Things of Beauty Growing’, which tells the story of English pottery from the early 20th century to the present: https://britishart.yale.edu/exhibitions/things-beauty-growing-british-studio-pottery.

She is showing clay vessels, all with different geometric patterns. The clay comes from many different places and in many different colours (its natural colours). The black clay for the vessels she is working on here in her studio in Shropshire comes from Germany. She builds on her clay vessels collection every time it is shown in a different venue – it has been to London, Newcastle, Cambridge. She was busy making five new vessels for this American show when we visited her in August. In her eyes they are a metaphor for humanity: we may be all different colours, but we are all made from the same material.

Pour It! Weld It! with Caro Burberry: an update

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 16:23:08 +0000

Dear Friends

I’m late. I’m crushed, grubby, happy and fulfilled. What wonderful people to work with – we installed my big sculpture this week (still to be named) – 1423lbs of Cast Iron. Here are some photos.

Final update when I reach New York in a few days. And have a proper mattress to sleep on. And constant water supply. I will strangely miss my tent and certainly the wonderful Masse family, crew and artists who have helped me realise this sculpture project. I am proud to be part of their 'family'.

Big hugs from Sculpture Trails, Solsberry, Indiana.

Caro

Preparing the cement base

Waiting for the cement to dry!

Winching up the sculpture

Hoisting the sculpture onto the base

The finished piece...

...and the celebration!

Brainstorming around jacket potatoes

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:56:50 +0000

A few anniversaries are coming up in the world of tree lovers and green wood. The bicentenary of Henry David Thoreau, the 800th anniversary of the Charter of Trees, the bicentenary of Herefordshire chair maker Philip Clissett (did you not know about him?!), and finally the 30th anniversary of the Big Storm of 1987, which pulled many trees down, and triggered a revival of green wood craft.

On 14 and 15 October, you can expect a lot of tree lovers/green wood craftspeople to be at Out Of Nature, demonstrating and talking about the value of our woods and how best to manage them.

Green wood work stars Mike Abbott and Gudrun Leitz, together with Out Of Nature organiser Brontë Woodruff and tree photographer Archie Miles, met to discuss the exciting programme of events. Another few jacket potato dinners and there should be some event details on the website!

The result of this jacket potato meeting is https://goingwiththegrain.org/the-wind-of-change/.

Photo (top) – from left to right: Gudrun Leitz, Brontë Woodruff, Archie Miles (Mike Abbott is behind the camera).

Pour It! Weld It! with Caro Burberry

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 10:14:35 +0000

Out of Nature 2017 exhibitor Caro Burberry is over in the US for a summer residency. She reports on Week 7 of an exacting schedule.

“It's been a week of full-on work at the foundry for all artists making carvings and models, moulding them and pouring in iron, then metalworking to cut off spruces that feed the metal into the mould and bleed gases from them to ensure best possible casts. Artists have interns allotted to them – Eve, Victoria, Devon and Paul so far for me – depending on what work we have on the go and need extra skilled hands for...

So here’s a round up of the week’s activity from my workbench. Photos: Ariana (who carries the meanest knife I’ve ever seen) on the pour line levelling out moulds and glueing on pour cups with core paste, a fire proof glue; one of my castings with its spruce system still attached; and a pink styrofoam carving waiting for its spruces to be attached before sand moulding.

I don’t want to hear a single complaint about a heatwave in the UK – today was 100 degrees and we still pour metal! Anything for the art! Onwards and upwards...”

The nitty gritty of land art

Thu, 06 Jul 2017 12:43:54 +0000

Here Dave, Mike (gardeners at Newport House), Richard Harris (artist), Scrabble (dog and general busy body) join forces to assemble the arch.

The Cart Shed receives The Queen's Award

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 11:06:04 +0000

The Cart Shed's wonderful volunteers have been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the MBE for voluntary groups.

The award has been given in recognition of the time and dedication the volunteers give to ‘transforming lives in Herefordshire by offering skills, friendship and a future to those in mental or physical distress’.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups and charities across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities.

The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

Cart Shed CEO Katie Eastaugh said: “We are very proud to receive this prestigious award, the MBE for voluntary groups, which symbolises the care, dedication and hard work of all the volunteers who have worked with us since The Cart Shed was founded in 2011.â¨Without their dedication and support, whether as drivers, cooks, a listening ear, or a skilled craftsperson, we would not be able to offer our unique ‘service without walls’. This service offers a lifeline to some of the most vulnerable adults in Herefordshire and surrounding counties. As CEO of The Cart Shed I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been involved with us – you really are a remarkable and generous team; we are forever in your debt."

The award will be handed to The Cart Shed by Lady Darnley on 6 October, during the Out of Nature sculpture show at Newport House.

Photo (top): Super volunteer and expert basket weaver Jenny Kelleher and occupational therapist and rock-in-the-storm for many clients Kate Lawes kicked off their boots and slipped on their dresses to collect the award at Buckingham Palace on 1 June!

Photos (below): Some of The Cart Shed's wonderful woodland volunteers (left) and polytunnel volunteers (right).

George Monbiot at Hay Festival 2017

Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:54:44 +0000

Last Thursday at the Hay Festival of Literature George Monbiot spoke about a scourge of our times, and took practical steps to help remedy it.

The scourge is disconnection: we have become disconnected from one another through living in isolation rather than in community. We now connect through devices rather than in person, and we have become disconnected from our natural environment through living in cities. Of course this is not true 100% of the time for 100% of people, but it is the trend, and there are signs of distress as a result.

Monbiot laments how the individual is glorified rather than the community: we are ‘individuals’ (rather than people); we shout out our ‘personal’ opinions; the model to follow is being a ‘winner’ (i.e. the goal being to crush every one else around you); and the worst outcome is to be a ‘loser’ (i.e. to be crushed by everyone else in the race towards personal supremacy).

He argues that human nature is actually the reverse of this; that compassion and living and working in community are our natural way of functioning. Our current society’s model is serving our true nature so badly that it is making us sick.

Monbiot identifies loneliness and the ensuing mental ill health as an epidemic. He points out that emotional pain follows the same neural pathways as physical pain, and causes similar physical symptoms, such as an increase in cortisol levels. He quotes studies showing that loneliness is twice as likely to kill us as obesity.

He observes that children suffer from attention deficit disorders in ways unknown to previous generations, and seems to suggest the situation is so bad that surveys of children’s mental health have not been carried out for fear of what the results may be. He notes that the last survey in the UK was in 2004, and the next one will not be until 2018.

He also observes a massive increase in children self-harming: when the emotional pain inside is so bad, causing a physical pain seems to many to be the only way to diffuse it. Yet, says Monbiot, parents are now more hands-on with their children than before, not less, so the issue lies elsewhere. And he believes connection to nature and community are the answer.

Fortunately people are rushing forward to remedy the imbalance. An initiative like The Eden Project’s The Big Lunch, taking place in the UK in June every year, is an occasion for everyone in a street or a neighbourhood to share a meal together. Deceased politican Jo Cox’s campaign against loneliness actively promotes simply getting together.

And last Thursday Monbiot stopped at Hay as part of his tour with singer/songwriter Ewan McLennan to talk about how bad loneliness is for some, and to bring people back together through song and food. Ewan’s music was soulful, and both he and Monbiot shared a meal with members of the public at the food court after the show. The album they've put together is called Breaking the Spell of Loneliness.

Of course, the punch line to this blog is that The Cart Shed charity knows all about the positive effects of reconnecting to others and to nature. This is how The Cart Shed’s participants slowly find purpose in their lives, and relief in times of distress – people affected with depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and more.

Every week these participants spend a whole day in the woods, either whittling, or going for a walk, or weaving baskets, or maybe just staring at the fire. With no pressure, just allowing themselves to feel safe.

And the Out Of Nature sculpture show, created to support The Cart Shed and illustrate how it works, is also an amazing occasion to experience community and the connection to nature. The show runs 1–22 October 2017 at Newport House in Herefordshire.

Read George Monbiot’s article in The Guardian: The age of loneliness is killing us.

Mark Stonestreet

Fri, 26 May 2017 13:22:31 +0000

As we prepare for the Out of Nature 2017 sculpture exhibition, we're excited to meet the sculptors and preview the work they'll be showing here. Mark Stonestreet is a new artist at Out Of Nature this year.

Mark made a slight detour on his way to the Scilly Isles yesterday from his home near Brighton and came to visit us at Newport House. He showed us pictures of his work in progress – all curves, squiggles and light humour. We can’t wait to see the pieces in the flesh!

Mark used to sit at a computer for 14 hours a day as a web designer. He decided 14 years ago that ‘following the money’ actually cost him a lot in quality of life. He decided to travel around the world to learn a trade where he could be more physical: stone carving. His first stop was Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, India, and he never went further than the small but vibrant fishing and stone carving town.

Mark now lives in India during the coldest months of the year – focusing completely on his carving when he’s there – and the rest of the year in England. His UK workshop is sited in a 17-acre piece of unspoilt greenery outside Brighton, and he shares it with other people, including the Stanmer Centre for Ecotherapy. The centre ‘aims to improve and maintain wellbeing through the use of nature-based and horticultural therapies, mindfulness and practical activities’.

It is indeed close in spirit and action to The Cart Shed, the charity that is at the centre of Out Of Nature. We took Mark for an afternoon visit to the Cart Shed site in the woods at Newport House for a cup of tea, a chat, and some soaking in of the sunny and serene atmosphere.

Mark is also familiar with one group who are part of The Cart Shed’s client base – war veterans suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). He has mentored war veterans through stone carving; and his father was in the army and is the local representative for SSAFA (a UK charity providing welfare and support for those serving in the armed forces, veterans and armed forces families).

When he gets back home, Mark has pieces to finish off, as well as no less than 20 tonnes of granite waiting to be worked on – and I thought I had a lot on my plate! While in India it is 15 tonnes of Rajasthan granite waiting for him, and 15 tonnes of Rajasthan marble that he bought on the back of a very successful show at On Form, the stone sculpture exhibition in Oxfordshire, last year. The stone was transported across India by lorry over five days, at half what it would have cost if he’d bought it in England. He hopes this will be enough carving material for the next few years.

For more information about Mark Stonestreet please visit: www.mstonestreet.com

End note of Out Of Nature 2015

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:54:46 +0000

The second edition of Out Of Nature closed on October 25th after three weeks of buzz and excitement, as the word got out, and more and more people came to admire the autumn colours, the sculptures, and sample the wonderfully creative food. Visitors came from Zurich, Paris, London, Bristol, Devon, Newcastle…

And just as importantly, many people who may not feel comfortable in an art gallery came, and loved the experience. We are not sure, but we think we had well over 3,000 visitors, including schools and residents from various homes. This doesn’t compare with the tens of thousands Westonbirt receives, but this is quite high for a remote county like Herefordshire, yet it never felt crowded.

The gardens at Newport House were looking more mature and lush than they ever have (credit to the dedicated gardening team led by Dave Gray), and we were fortunate that an exceptionally clement autumn enabled visitors to soak in the beauty of the sculptures and the gardens at their own pace, often coming back for more.
The Brazilian couple in the kitchen, Paula and Pedro, indulged in a creative cooking frenzy, coming up with new recipes every day to process all the produce coming from Lynette in the walled garden. Please look up some of their best recipes here!

I am very grateful to all 37 artists for showing their work here, about 200 pieces in total, of outstanding quality and credentials. Some delivered their pieces from quite far, and it created a show that visitors said filled them with awe and wonder.

We sold 60 pieces in total, including a few repeat editions, which generated a revenue of £10,000 in commissions. Together with the £15,000 on ticket sales and £9,000 on food sales, it generated a profit of £14,000 for the Cart Shed.

Beyond the financials, the show achieved its objective of providing visitors with an experience: that of the beauty of Nature, and our link to it. Whether it was walking through the gardens and seeing the sculptures, or children playing in the tree house. And it is that link that enables our clients of The Cart Shed to heal.

Our thanks to the media that covered this event even though it is still young: the Hereford Times gave us great coverage, the Telegraph a lovely article, mentions in the Sunday Times, Gardens Illustrated, an article in the local The Hedge.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped with car parking and washing those endless cups on week-ends.
We miss the sense of purpose that took over Newport House, but we do also enjoy the peace that followed the show, until next time.
Brontë Woodruff and I look forward to welcoming you for the next one in autumn 2017!

Warm wishes.
jenny Watt

Out Of Nature uncut

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 11:29:07 +0000

A few snap shots from Out Of Nature to make you smile!

Gillian Hipp brough her students to perform a choreography around the sculptures.

Bob Langridge has one day to take photos for the catalogue.

Head gardener Dave Gray feels a bit weary after days of carrying heavy sculptures around.

Darren has a real flair for placing the pieces where they will look strong. Here seen stroking the chin of Matt Lane Sanderson's horse.

Jane and Jean-Patrice Oulmont enjoy a break after driving up from the Pyrenees to install his bronze and wood sculpures.

Julian Meredith gives the riding arena a make over.

Lynette Choppin has been preparing the pumpkins and other fruit and vegetables for months so they can be ready for the land art.

Our pony Pixie isn't so sure about these wooden horses look alike.

Rachel Carter made 1,000 paper dollies for the green house and came from Derbyshire to install them. She decides 200 hanging were enough!

Land art: the public was invited on the opening week-end to add colour in the form of vegetables and fruit from the walled garden to a large shape on the bottom lawn. It was the logo of the Cart Shed, and coordinated by Tamsin Gear, team leader for The Cart Shed and green wood craftsperson.

Cart Shed logo with the house behind.

Jon Edgar was artist in residence for 10 days in the gardener's cottage. He carved a lime block, and threw the clay portrait of local farmer Jeff Glyn Jones: more here.

Jon Edgar presents his lime carving. It contains features from Newport House: the pigs, he gardener's cottage, the tree house, the stallion...

Rolf Hook conducts master classes on wood carving.

Aragorn Dick-Read takes his fire sculptures to other shows. It's sad to see the pieces go...

Tree House part of the Out Of Nature experience

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 10:58:10 +0000

The old chestnut tree by the house acted as a magnet for the preview (or maybe it was the proseco being served under it), and with children: they spent hours playing in the tree house.

Here is what a visitor had to say about it: click here.

It was built with wood from the woods at Newport House by Andrew James Marsden.

Food was art too at Out Of Nature 2015

Tue, 17 Nov 2015 10:09:30 +0000

We were blessed to have an energetic Brazilian couple, Paula and Pedro, and their 4 year old son Joaquim, do the cooking for Out Of Nature this year, using the vegetables and fruit from the walled garden, brought every day by Lynette Choppin. In a frenzy of creative cooking, they produced non stop soups, cakes and breads for the hundreds of visitors, who kept coming back for more.

Paula also ran a food art workshop for children, she had made beautiful and delicious paints wih blue berries, lemon grass, straberries, etc, that the children used to decorate some chapattis. Yum.

Paula wrote down some of the best recipes (Cf list below!), you can look them up here!

Maize cake (GF) with icing
Caramelized Pear and Blue Cheese Soup
Bread Sticks
Brazilian Cheese Bread
Pear upside down tart
Roasted Garlic Focaccia
Vichyssoise (Anthony Bourdain)
Rye and Spelt Bread (adapted from Nigel Slater)
Brownie chocolate fudge
GF Brownie chocolate fudge
Squash coconut soup
Cream of Potato and onion Soup
Tomato and pepper soup
Carrot and orange soup
Carrot Cake
Carrot ginger Treacle Cake
Yoghurt Berry Cake
Lemon Grass Cake ( vegan)
Lemon poppy seeds cakes
Lemon grass fudge
Gluten Free Vegan brownie
Ginger treacle Cake with lemon
Plain Scones ( Juliet´s Recipe)
Lemon Poppy seeds Scones
Raisins Scones
GF Plain Scones
GF Lemon Poppy seeds Scones
Apple Cake ( Tia Lourdes recipe)
Pear Cake
Salted Caramel Tart (adapted from home cooking recipe)
Squash pie (Lynette’s recipe)
Carrot Fennel soup
Olive Bread

Wonderful Volunteers

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:36:32 +0000

Over 450 visitors came to Out Of Nature this week-end, and many ate Paula and Pedro's delicious food - the show has become a catering operation, and wouldn't be possible without some wonderful volunteers (who got roped in unaware): Felicity, Martin, Maria, Laura and Vanessa. And on previous week-ends Jackie Whittal and Kim Cunningham! Thank you so much for your good mood and hard work!

Food Art

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:33:55 +0000

Paula (the Brazilian cook for Out Of Nature) has prepared some food art for today's visitors: Brontë and Laura give it a go!

What Out Of Nature is all about

Tue, 20 Oct 2015 09:30:46 +0000

What Out Of Nature is all about
(Intro to the catalogue)

Out Of Nature is about connection – with oneself, with Nature, with others.
It is that connection which helps The Cart Shed participants heal.
It is also a celebration of Life, its beauty and magic, this hidden force that creates, transforms and destroys things in a beautiful cosmic dance.
Each in their own way, the artists at Out Of Nature have captured the essence of this, like shamans revealing to us the deeper nature of things.

And an article in The Hedge expanding on the subject.

Sculpture Hugging

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:03:28 +0000

Rolf's egg has been hugged a lot. His Venus piece looking good in the morning light.

Artist Jon Edgar

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 12:00:26 +0000

Artist Jon Edgar stayed in the gardener's cottage for 9 days, he carved a lime board (you can find features of the house in it: a large pig, a hidden stallion, the tree house…) and threw the clay portrait of local farmer Jeff Glyn Jones.

Jeff with his wife Carey and their grand children George, Charlie and Jasmine.

Here's Jon Edgar's blog: https://jonedgar.wordpress.com/…/12/a-herefordshire-journal/

The Gardeners at Newport House

Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:57:38 +0000

Giving credit where credit is due: Out Of Nature wouldn't exist without a wonderful team of gardeners, who make the gardens what they are, and have graciously taken on the role of park attendants and waiters for the duration of the show.

Murray (the best read and most distinguished mower driver and mechanic in the whole world), Ciprian (who we've been lucky to have for 3 years), Mike (woodsman and expert in bushcraft and all things wood related), Kevin (always willing to help, can also find good 2nd hand cars), Lyn (in charge of the walled garden and at her most enthusiastic when talking about bugs or plants), Mark (loves music and music production, but also enjoys being outdoors), Maggie (discreetly makes sure the boarders look stunning, together with Darren), Dave (head gardener, quietly and reliably keeps everything together) and of course Darren in the front row (Darren multi tasks: he has a flair for placing sculptures and loves greeting people).

Particular thanks to Dave, Maggie, Murray, Kevin, Darren and Mike who have given their time on week-ends, all for the benefit of The Cart Shed.

St Richard's school visit

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:19:16 +0000

St Richard's school children get close and personal with William Peers' "Constance".

The sculptures are all treated with reverence, but Constance acts as a magnet with children, they can't help wanting to jump through it.

Three land art creations

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:14:45 +0000

We have three land art creations at Out Of Nature this year.

Look at these magical pictures!

Starting from the left: land art by Kate Raggett, then land art of the Cart Shed logo coordinated by Tamsin Gear (under Kate's mentoring), then Julian Meredith's make over of our riding arena.

Cart Shed logo in apples, pumpkins, fleece, chard, etc, added by members of the public on Oct 3-4 and coordinated by Tamsin Gear.

All produce from Newport House walled garden, tended lovingly by Lynette, Kevin and Ciprian.

Land art by Kate Raggett

Land art by Julian Meredith

Paula's Happiness Soup!

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:06:38 +0000

Today, Paula prepared carrot soup with ginger and orange and a delicious soupe vichyssoise. It's worth coming just for the food!

British Cassis

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 11:03:14 +0000

A huge thank you to Jo Hilditch who gave us some of her delicious cassis for the preview, it contributed in no small way to the very happy mood! Order some now as Christmas presents on http://www.britishcassis.co.uk.

Jo made it on the front page of the Hereford Times last month after her appearance on Dragon's den, with the brilliant title "Cool farmer gives cold shoulder to fired-up TV millionaires"!

Spectacular land art

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:58:30 +0000

Kate Raggett's spectacular land art makes it in the Hereford Times! Thank you for the support Philippa!

Come and see it in real life at the exhibition.

Jon Edgar throws a clay portrait

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:55:01 +0000

Jon Edgar throws a clay portrait of Jeff Glyn Jones, local farmer and active advocate of sustainable farming.

Amazing cakes and soups

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 10:43:33 +0000

Despite an absolute downpour around lunchtime yesterday, we had a really great day at Newport House, with lovely visitors from all over the place, good sales of work and a lot of interest ... Paula, the Brazilian WOOFA, is exciting us with amazing cakes and soups .. . yum! .. with olive bread .. mmm .. wonder what she is cooking up today .. hope there is some of that squash and coconut milk soup left ...
... I imagine the two Greedy Italians in The Pub are delighted with all the joyful Brazilian colour Paula is bringing to the table!

Out Of Nature sculpture show day one

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:55:01 +0000

A very mellow, happy and sunny day today. Nearly 300 people but never felt crowded. Some people stayed the whole day.

What a wonderful event the Out of Nature 2015 Opening Weekend was! Here are just a few snaps from Saturday visited by 350 people that day alone. Remember the show will be on until the 25th October.

Kate Raggett's land art

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:45:37 +0000

Kate Raggett's land art, a large drawing made with poplar logs, photographed from her drone. Stunning.

Tamsin Gear

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 10:40:16 +0000

Tamsin Gear invited the public to add their touch of color to the Cart Shed logo she'd drawn with fleece.

Carver Paul Caton

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:29:33 +0000

Paul in his workshop

Wooden bowls and bells and more: a visit to Paul Caton

It’s hard to resist the appeal of Paul Caton’s large wooden bowls. I’m told his children sometimes had their daytime naps in one. His children are big now, but the bowls still inspire him. He also creates sculptures in bronze, stone and marble. Remarkably, apart from a few encounters with Elizabeth Frink while he was living in the Ardennes for six months, he is self-taught.

His most recent public work, figures from the nativity carved in lime, can be seen in Hereford Cathedral. A gentle, self-effacing person, he works in the grounds of his home above Lingen in Herefordshire. He and his wife Gill, a special needs teacher and speech therapist, used to run for several years an arts programme for children in Leominster. His generous spirit also induces him to donate pieces to people he admires, he mentioned in passing he’d given a piece to Satish Kumar when he learnt that I invited Satish to talk at Out of Nature two years ago, and it sounds like he has plans to donate a large piece to another high profile ecologist.

Paul will be showing at “Out of Nature” again this year, and we’re delighted that he will be making one or two pieces especially for the show.

Paul in front of his house in Lingen

Showing the wooden template for a bell

Busy in Knucklas: Lottie OâLeary

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 08:20:53 +0000

Lottie takes a break
from stone carving

Busy in Knucklas: Lottie O’Leary

I was lucky to see Lottie O’Leary last Wednesday. She’s a busy woman this year. She’s preparing for a solo show of medieval style stone carvings at Aardvark books in two weeks, a “Made in Knucklas” show at the Courtyard in May, as well as supervising the GCSE and A level preparations of two of her children, and working on the usual bread and butter stone carving work with her husband Will.

All that on top of working on the tomb stone of her great great great grandfather, General William Ponsonby, who died at Waterloo and who has a memorial at St Paul’s Cathedral, but no tomb stone on his own tomb - not yet! It will be installed this year on the 250^th anniversary of Waterloo. Oh, and also selling vegetables for Rhos Market Garden in Presteigne on Friday mornings, and being an active member of the Knucklas Castle Community Land Project and various other local events.

She made me feel as if Knucklas was the most happening place on earth, between regular folk music sessions at The Castle, attended by musicians who come from all over the borders on the “Heart of Wales” train, Apple Day, etc…

So I feel rather fortunate that she is prepared to contribute a new piece for “Out of Nature” in October, made especially for the show, with possibly some of Will’s lettering. Maybe some sandstone vegetation to be fixed on the walled garden brick wall… can’t wait to see it!

Sculptor-adventurer: Glenn Morris

Fri, 27 Mar 2015 12:04:27 +0000

Sculptor-adventurer: Glenn Morris

Glenn’s life story is probably typical in that it was nothing like a straight line. He studied sculpture, and was accepted at the Royal Academy after acquiring a first class degree, but decided he had to feed his young family, and taught pottery for a few years. Later, following a divorce, he ran a successful tree surgeon company in Kent called Down to Earth Trees, and the appeal of the wild and his taste for rock climbing and mountaineering eventually took him to Eas Greenland.

Hooked by the Arctic, he returned time and again, attracted by the wilderness, the beauty of the frozen landscape, and his growing friendship with the Inuits.

He now divides his time between Kent, Wales where he sculpts and lives with his partner Clare and the Arctic.

When Brontë and I first arrived at his house lost in the middle of the Welsh hills, on a sunny March morning, Glenn was working on a marble sculpture reminiscent of the shape the ice takes as it melts.

The house, lost in the Welsh hills

Glenn working outside

Showing a narwhal tusk

As we walked through his workshop, he couldn’t resist taking down a kayak he’d built with a friend in Norway, based on those used by the Inuits, a light, fuselaged wooden frame with canvas all around and a hole to slide the body in. That was a kayak used by men for hunting: they’d plant a spear in a seal, with a rope attached to it with a balloon made out of animal stomach to keep the seal afloat. Glenn explained how men and women play very different roles, equally critical and indispensable. Unfortunately as modern life is reaching the Arctic, the traditional life style is being lost and the Inuits now live in pre-fab accommodation, a bit lost between two very different ways of life.

Glenn’s experience of the Arctic clearly shaped his outlook on life: he explained how climate change is so much more palpable there, as houses sink into the permafrost, sledges break through the ice killing people he sometimes knew, and whole new sea routes can be sailed by kayak where it was once all ice. He shares “about the first time that the sea ice had allowed shipping through the North West Passage: It was in 2008 and we saw the first cruise ship arrive at Cambridge Bay”.

In 2007-2009, Glenn led a 4,500 miles expedition by canoe, dogsledge and sea kayak, linking Inuit schools with British schools, covered by the BBC and related here: http://www.arcticvoice.org. Setting off from Yellowknife, they canoed the Great Slave Lake, then down the Mackenzie River to Inuvik, kayaked the Northwest

The living fossil" at the
National Botanic Garden
of Wales

Passage via Tuktoyaktuk, Paulutuk, Coppermine, Bathhurst inlet, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven. Glenn then dogsledged with an Inuit friend round the northern end of Baffin Island from Iglulik to Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet.

His library contains many books on ecology and climate change, and countless photographs from his travels. His cottage is an Aladdin’s cave of Arctic artifacts: the snug hide of a Musk Ox, gorgeous Inuit statuettes, a sleeping bag fit for Arctic temperatures, a narwhal tusk found discarded on the ground.

The Arctic also inspires his work: his current pieces reflect on the passage of time.

His piece 'Osmunda regalis' (the Living Fossil) in the “Bar Code” exhibition at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, represents the fossil of the Royal Fern, a plant that hasn’t changed in 350 million years (Swedish scientists found DNA of the plant going back that far). The work is in Kilkenny Limestone, a very hard stone that carves more like marble than limestone.

We’re very excited that “Out of Nature” is inspiring him to create a piece on the same theme of time, involving an endangered species. We also look forward to hearing Glenn give a talk about his Arctic adventures and how the insight they give him influences his work.

In the Arctic

Inuit

Official launch Sunday, Oct 13th

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:03:06 +0000

Photo by Sean Crawford

250 hardy art and garden lovers came to the official launch last Sunday.

The pouring rain didn't dampen spirits, wine and delicious Malaysian food contributed to a real buzzy atmosphere, and visitors were enchanted by the 170 sculptures and gardens.

Satish Kumar made an impassioned case for all humans to honour the artist in them. The land art made by all visitors under Kate Raggett is wonderful, and Gillian Hipp in her hoop made a stunning living sculpture.

Managing 2 artist careers, 3 young children...

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 10:28:25 +0000

... keeping pigs, ducks and hens and refurbishing a house.

Matt Lane Sanderson and Rachel Wood.

Matt Lane Sanderson makes himself comfortable in his sculpture.

His wife Rachel's workshop: the place of many wonders at night, when their 3 young children have gone to sleep - goats and geese and hare appear and other magical things occur.

Ant discovers 2 huge bears hiding in oak trunk!

Mon, 09 Sep 2013 10:18:01 +0000

Ant Bettlestone discovers 2 huge bears hiding in an oak trunk we've had for years. Who would have known?! Meanwhile his two young children go feral with mine, butterfly catching, strawberry picking, trampolining...

Jenny

William Peers installs in the pouring rain

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 15:22:11 +0000

William Peers and 12 year old son Sacha install William's three larger pieces on their way back from the cricket test match in Manchester.

The weather couldn't have been worse...

Renshaw's pieces come down from the Welsh hills

Sun, 04 Aug 2013 15:16:38 +0000

Mountaineer Richard Renshaw's three Ancaster Lime stone pieces come down from the steep hills of Cwmdu to the flat ground of Herefordshire. Will the brakes of the pick up hold up with the weight of 1-2 tonne stone? I went down the hill on foot, just in case...

All was well in the end, but it did take 2 trips, we didn't want to risk overloading.

Rolf Hook's Venus arrives

Fri, 02 Aug 2013 08:50:23 +0000

July 31st: Rolf Hook's 'Venus' travels through Wales to arrive at Newport House!

Below see it driving through Wales and Anna sitting on Venus' tummy

Website goes live

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:27:29 +0000

Out of Nature

Jules Hudson Talk on Walled Gardens and Lunch

Wrapping up Out Of Nature 2017

Out of Nature inspires photographers

Out Of Nature seen from the air

Richard Harris's creations in wood

Clare Parry-Jones' Alarch

Bonfire and music to close the show

'Transforming Trees, Transforming People'

The Cart Shed and Out of Nature

Newport House gardeners

Out Of Nature's delicious recipes

The Wind of Change: a sunny celebration of Wood

Come to Out Of Nature for the food alone!

Jon Edgar completes Cart Shed sculpture

The Queen's Award for Cart Shed Volunteers

Out Of Nature 2017 kicks off in style

'Sonatine' premiere at Out of Nature

Nature's Hospital

Jon Edgar represents The Cart Shed in sculpture

Halima Cassell: Things of Beauty Growing

Pour It! Weld It! with Caro Burberry: an update

Brainstorming around jacket potatoes

Pour It! Weld It! with Caro Burberry

The nitty gritty of land art

The Cart Shed receives The Queen's Award

George Monbiot at Hay Festival 2017

Mark Stonestreet

End note of Out Of Nature 2015

Out Of Nature uncut

Tree House part of the Out Of Nature experience

Food was art too at Out Of Nature 2015

Wonderful Volunteers

Food Art

What Out Of Nature is all about

Sculpture Hugging

Artist Jon Edgar

The Gardeners at Newport House

St Richard's school visit

Three land art creations

Paula's Happiness Soup!

British Cassis

Spectacular land art

Jon Edgar throws a clay portrait

Amazing cakes and soups

Out Of Nature sculpture show day one

Kate Raggett's land art

Tamsin Gear

Carver Paul Caton

Busy in Knucklas: Lottie OâLeary

Sculptor-adventurer: Glenn Morris

Official launch Sunday, Oct 13th

Managing 2 artist careers, 3 young children...

Matt Lane Sanderson and Rachel Wood.

Ant discovers 2 huge bears hiding in oak trunk!

William Peers installs in the pouring rain

Renshaw's pieces come down from the Welsh hills

Rolf Hook's Venus arrives

Website goes live

Busy in Knucklas: Lottie OâLeary