130 Tees Valley pupils are in the throes of experiencing the art of nature. Pupils from both primary and secondary schools across the Tees Valley are taking part in Green TV, a hands-on artistic exploration of some of Teesside’s best natural heritage.
As part of the exciting Green TV project pupils from Easterside Primary in Middlesbrough, Zetland Primary in Redcar, Gillbrook College in Eston, Roseberry Primary in Billingham and St Teresa’s Primary in Darlington are each working with an artist and local wildlife organisations to learn about local nature, all through innovative and creative artistic approaches. The artists who are using sound, sculpture, print making and visual arts are Sara Cooper, Vicky Holbrough, Bethan Maddocks, Adrian Moule and Dominic Nelson-Ashley.
Activities and visits are taking place over the next four weeks at various nature sites across Tees Valley including RSPB Saltholme, Portrack Marsh Nature Reserve (Stockton), North Gare & Seaton Dunes (Hartlepool), Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve (Redcar) and South Burdon Community Woodland & The Whinnies (Darlington).
Green TV, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and managed by Tees Valley Arts, see artists working alongside wildlife officers and teachers delivering a diverse range of exciting arts based activities engaging school pupils with local wildlife and heritage.
Green TV is now half way through its second year and thus far has worked with over 450 pupils from across the Tees Valley and 500 people from local communities.
A parent of a pupil participant from Year One of the project said “Alex has loved Green TV – he has been so enthusiastic and engaged. By going to the site it brought learning to life instead of just learning from books.”
Uswah Khan, a pupil from Abingdon Primary school said “I want to go to Maze Park again because I want to learn more about nature.” (Maze Park is one of the wildlife sites)