Children from Malmesbury Park Primary School in Bournemouth will be featured in a new sound installation coming to Moors Valley Country Park and Forest this September.
The piece, called Canopy, has been created by Dorset-based artist Lorna Rees as part of this year’s Inside Out Dorset festival. It will include 24 sound pods suspended from trees, each containing voices and reflections from different people about their connection with nature, including Year 4 pupils from the school.
The sound trail runs from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 September, inviting visitors to explore the forest and listen to a range of voices, including scientists, musicians, arborists and artists, all sharing their thoughts on the natural world.
The children’s contributions came from a creative workshop led by Lorna at Malmesbury Park Primary, where they explored the school’s woodland space and discussed the importance of trees and environmental care.
Lorna said she was moved by the children’s honest and thoughtful responses, which focused on being good ancestors and protecting nature for the future. She said the project is designed to bring people outdoors and reflect on their place in the environment.
Additional workshops were also held at Christchurch Junior School, St Katharine’s CE Primary in Southbourne and St Ives Primary School.
The installation is supported by Activate Performing Arts, Arts Council England, Forestry England, Dorset Council, the Cultural Hub and the National Memorial Arboretum.
Inside Out Dorset is a free outdoor arts festival held every two years at sites across the county.