Natural Connections was a 5 week project that used both natural heritage collections and the outdoor environment to explore the natural world, using it as inspiration for learning and creativity. Led by artist Michelle Sheree, sessions included a ceramic workshop inspired by the museum’s shell and mollusc collections, exploring insects through photography, a bug hunt ‘in the back field’ and final celebration event where participants created Andy Goldsworthy-style installations from natural material they found in the woods.

The museum was in the process of being redeveloped and so all sessions had to take place outside the museum. Artist Michelle Sheree described how being outdoors was so critical to the participant’s engagement in the project, because getting them out and about, and getting them doing things, that’s definitely really good for being in the moment. It makes you do something now, so you’re not stuck in a setting and looking at pictures. The participants could then use their experiences out in nature when looking at the museum’s collections, which allowed for close-up encounters that were not always possible outside.

The main project partner was housing association, Bolton at Home, and the project supported Bolton’s Ambition for Ageing strategy.

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