Art Gallery & Creative Hub

Images courtesy of www.paul-close.com Self Funded Studio Residencies "The residency opportunity here, manages to provide both a quiet retreat and a creative hub. The accommodation is of simple, contemporary design; cosy and homely, but, delightfully, is also without the clutter of my usual life …. During the day, there is the hum of other creatives working in the building and using the studios outside ... A key element to a residency for me, is about embedding into a place, which is accelerated when staying. It goes truly dark at night, huge dappled, daytime skies stretch out over the heathland and people really do build dens in the woods on Sundays." Clare Baskerville, resident artist Summer/Autumn 2020 Our aims: Our recent period of capital development included the building of a live-work space for artists. SPUD is now looking to build the community of artists that we work with through a series of funded and self-funded residencies. We want these residencies to focus on specific strengths that the building, its immediate and wider environment and the communities living here offer, using the New Forest as a rich resource for inspiration that focuses on the natural environment, the open air and isolated rural communities such as LGBTQ and older people, particularly those living with dementia. What we are looking for: SPUD would like to invite artists whose interests and inspirations are sympathetic to any of the above themes to apply initially for self-funded residencies of two, three or four weeks. What we can offer: Located in the heart of the New Forest National Park in the UK, the studio provides a dedicated live-work space. It is open to artists of any discipline in need of a concentrated period of time to develop their ideas. It is approximately 23 square metres (247 sq ft) with heating and electricity and its own entrance offering access 7 days per week. The studio has a double bed (that folds away to the wall for added space), desk, sofa, armchair and storage with a shared toilet and wash-up facilities. The studio space also has an induction hob, microwave, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, fridge freezer and basic cooking equipment. There is also a 42" smart TV (with various players) and DAB radio. Artists also have access to the main spudWORKS building with another basic kitchen, shower and other facilities. All facilities are regularly cleaned. Although you will responsible for the live/work space during your stay. Bedding (including clean sheets/pillowcases are provided, but you will need to provide your own towels, There is a well-stocked shop in the village, post office, cafe, award-winning butchers and a couple of pubs. spudWORKS is located in the centre of Sway Village, in the New Forest National Park. It is a 2 minute walk from Sway Railway Station with connections to London and the West Country. We also have a shared use electric bike, that resident artists can book out and use for free during their stay. Location Map. There will be opportunities for socially engaged artists to work with local communities to develop their work and also potentially to show work resulting from the residency in the gallery at spudWORKS. The cost of the space for a self-funded residency is £260 per week (7 days/Mon 12pm - Mon 10am or part thereof) payable in advance. Artists can apply to stay for a duration of 1-4 weeks. Applicants should demonstrate: A commitment to an on-going contemporary art/creative practice. An engagement with the wider contemporary art/creative context or community. A clear vision for the development of their work. How a residency at spudWORKS will benefit their practice. We understand the need for people to concentrate on developing and delivering their own work but we hope resident artists will be open to opportunities offered the broader creative activities and community at spudWORKS e.g. networking events, workshops, exhibitions, collaborations. If you would like to engage with a wider public during your residency and are willing to offer a talk or workshop during your stay at the studio we would be happy to work with you to arrange this. Availability: Email eloise@spud.org.uk for more information on availability. Bookings must be a minimum of one week, starting on a Monday at 12pm and running until 10am the following Monday. Artists can apply to stay for a duration of 1-4 weeks. Eligibility: spudWORKS is pleased to receive proposals and applications for self-funded residencies from artists working in a range of media and at any stage of their careers. Application process: Selection procedure: All applications are considered on the quality of the work, commitment to development and potential engagement with the creative environment at spudWORKS and the surrounding area. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application. Applications for self-funded residencies are ongoing and will be dealt with as received. Your information will be handled in line with SPUD’s data privacy policy

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SPUD Accessibility Statement Updated: June 2020. General SPUD strives to ensure that its services are accessible to people with disabilities. SPUD has invested a significant amount of resources to help ensure that its website is made easier to use and more accessible for people with disabilities, with the strong belief that every person has the right to live with dignity, equality, comfort and independence. Accessibility on www.spud.org.uk www.spud.org.uk makes available the UserWay Website Accessibility Widget that is powered by a dedicated accessibility server. The software allowswww.spud.org.uk to improve its compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1). Enabling the Accessibility MenuThe www.spud.org.uk accessibility menu can be enabled by clicking the accessibility menu icon that appears on the corner of the page. After triggering the accessibility menu, please wait a moment for the accessibility menu to load in its entirety. Disclaimer SPUD continues its efforts to constantly improve the accessibility of its site and services in the belief that it is our collective moral obligation to allow seamless, accessible and unhindered use also for those of us with disabilities. In an ongoing effort to continually improve and remediate accessibility issues, we also regularly scan www.spud.org.uk with UserWay's Accessibility Scanner to identify and fix every possible accessibility barrier on our site. Despite our efforts to make all pages and content on www.spud.org.uk fully accessible, some content may not have yet been fully adapted to the strictest accessibility standards. This may be a result of not having found or identified the most appropriate technological solution. Here For You If you are experiencing difficulty with any content on www.spud.org.uk or require assistance with any part of our site, please contact us during normal business hours as detailed below and we will be happy to assist. Contact Us If you wish to report an accessibility issue, have any questions or need assistance, please contact SPUD as follows: Email: jointheadventure@spudgroup.org.uk Phone: 01590 682260

Crossroads and Other Junctions spudOPEN 2026: CROSSROADS AND OTHER JUNCTIONS At every moment, we find ourselves at a crossroads — between choices, identities, places, and possibilities. Crossroads and Other Junctions invites artists to explore these charged points of meeting and transition: where paths intersect, diverge, collide, or quietly overlap. This theme is an open field. It might emerge through stories of migration, personal turning points, cultural exchange, or the layered histories embedded in a single place. It could be found in physical junctions — roads, borders, networks — or in the more intangible spaces between ideas, disciplines, or states of being. We’re looking for work that lingers in these in-between moments, that questions direction, or embraces uncertainty. Whether your practice maps a clear route or resists resolution altogether, this is a space to reflect on what it means to stand at a point of connection — and to decide, or not decide, what comes next. There are two prizes – £500 for the Open Winner and £100 for the Public Choice. Sponsored again by the New Forest National Park Authority. Submitted work can be in any medium (Painting, Textiles, Photography, Print, Text based work, Jewellery, Video, Sculpture, Ceramics, Mixed Media, Poems, illustrations, sound etc.) There is a size limit for each work - maximum scale 100cm x 100cm x 100cm. Work exceeding this will be sadly rejected. Applications are to be made online and the panel will be making its selection digitally. Successful applications will be included in a group show to be held in our celebrated gallery over December/January 2026/27, with a gala public opening and the opportunity to win ‘Best in Show’. The very popular ‘Public Choice award’ will be voted on throughout the show and announced at the end of the exhibition in January. This is all made possible by our sponsor again this year, The New Forest National Parks Authority. You can make up to three applications through our online portal @spud.org.uk. Deadline for us to receive your applications is September 25th at Midnight. A successful application will be notified via email by Friday 30th Oct. If you have not heard by this date, then you can assume that you have not been successful on this occasion. Successful applicants will need to drop off or send work to arrive at SPUD between 23rd or 25th November 2026 (10am-4pm) and collect it between 13th - 15th January 2027 (10am-4pm). Rejections No one is rejected from our Open, we just can’t select everyone. Even if you do not make it into the final exhibition, you have been an important part of defining the discussions and emerging themes of the show, and your work has been seen by an important art panel. We do want you to feel that all can enter and be part of the SPUD family. To enter please complete the simple form below: Complete title of work, size of work and primary materials e.g. acrylic on canvas Fill out the description of your work, you have 30-words to tell us what the work conveys us or demonstrates. If the work is for sale, please include a suggested price including commission (SPUD commission is 20%). Leave blank if not. Upload up to 2 images of the work using the entry form only - a png or jpg will work (max 10mb) If you are submitting a film or similar other, you can use the URL box on the entry form to submit a link to a video file, including YouTube, Vimeo etc. You will be requested to pay the fee of £10 per entry. Entry charge is per piece of work - maximum 3 pieces of work. Any entries not paid for will not be accepted. Please submit separate forms for each submitted piece of work. You may submit 3 times in total.

St Thomas Churchyard Consultation Church Yard Refurbishment Project Lymington churchyard provides a green oasis in the centre of Lymington. While there are often people hurrying through the churchyard, the church wants to encourage residents and visitors alike to use it as a place of quiet and respite. There are at least 100 trees in the churchyard, predominantly limes. The original avenue of lime trees was planted between the late 1600s and 1736. Other trees in the churchyard include horse chestnut, oak, beech, yew, holly and hawthorn. New Public Forecourt for St Thomas’ Church! St Thomas’ Church and the SPUD team are developing a design proposal to create an inclusive and welcoming space for the church. The church is accessible directly from the High Street and provides a welcome green space for the congregation as well as passers by. The Church team approached SPUD in order to give the church yard some key renovation work. Some of the current challenges that the church is facing; is the encroaching damp in the entrance area; the tired, oversized flower beds and the patchwork of different pathway materials. This project aims to bring both the congregation and the wider community together through collaboration. Previous SPUD youth Project, new bench and bike shelter Lymington Juniors participating in the Schools Design Workshop There has been a church on this prominent site for more than 800 years. During this time the building has experienced frequent and extensive maintenance and has under gone several reconstructions and additions. The refurbishment of the church yard is just the next chapter of a long history of renewal. History The Church has a very forward thinking approach in terms of it’s oureach and mission and tries to involve as many people as possible from Messy Church and home communion, to Monday Lunch club, toddlers group and Vistas Cafe. St Thomas in a Modern Context SPUD and St Thomas’ Church have worked collaboratively on addressing the issues and a design approach. Both the congregation and local schools have been engaged in the early stages of the project, and have been pivotal in helping shape the story for the forecourt. Topics of nature and reflective spaces came out as strong themes when asking school children about the elements they think are unique and of high importance. Another important connection between SPUD and St Thomas has been the renewed working between St Thomas and SPUD youth; a youth programme run after school for students with an interest in architecture, urban design and public art. St Thomas’ Church is in a unique position in Lymington, at the end of the High Street the church can be seen from quite a distance. It sits within the boundary of its own graveyard at the junction of St Thomas Street, the High Street and Church Lane. Lymington is an active market town, with a true sense of community. Who? Existing Site Plan St Thomas’ Church acts as a landmark upon the High Street, and connects people's walking routes through town. Because of its location, the graveyard experiences a lot of footfall and as a result becomes a destination for local residents' strolls though Lymington. Whether walking to the Cricket Club or recreation grounds the elongated plan of the graveyard provides pleasant wallking routes to the green spaces beyond. Being protected from any kind of development, the churchyard has been left relatively undisturbed for hundreds of years. As we hear how our wildlife is in trouble, with many species of birds, mammals and insects declining, churchyards are increasingly recognised as important places for wildlife conservation. We are now managing our churchyard (particularly the area furthest away from the church) with wildlife as well as people in mind. Happily, wildlife-friendly plants in the garden areas and wild flowers growing in the long grass at the far end of the churchyard are attractive to both! If you wander through the churchyard we hope you will enjoy the tranquillity, and the plants, butterflies and birds. The church has now achieved Eco Church Gold Award. Eco Church In winter of 2019, SPUD went into local primary schools to discover exactly what children thought about their local church yard. We need to create a public forecourt that is inviting for the general public, to include existing seating, bicycle storage design by SPUD youthand new planting. In 2016 spudYOUTH students were given the task of regenerating St Thomas’ churchyard in Lymington. After exploring multiple options two projects were decided upon. The first was a new cycle shed to replace the worn out existing hut that was insecure and falling apart. The second piece was a new bench with new paving beneath. These designs were built in 2017. Please browse through this digital gallery to view all of the concept designs and drawings from local young people Please click the red button to take our St. Thomas Church Q uestionnaire - this will open in a new window St. Thomas Church Questionnaire Please note: We will not be collecting any email addresses and your data will be submitted anonymously.

Mobile Arts Space Design and Build Competition: Bring culture to every corner of the New Forest. Apply Here The Project We are working in partnership with Culture in Common and New Forest District Council who are commissioning an innovative, mobile performance structure to take high‑quality arts and culture to towns and villages across the New Forest. It will tour May–September each year, then be based at Applemore College through the darker months, offering a flexible, inspiring venue for learning and community use. What we’re looking for: A robust, transportable, all‑weather structure that deploys quickly on varied sites (greens, squares, car parks, recreation grounds). A flexible space for performance, workshops and exhibitions—welcoming, inclusive, and distinctive. A practical build within a total budget of £80,000 (incl. VAT). This project is being funded by New Forest District Council using Community Infrastructure Levy contributions and all tenders are through the New Forest District Council Portal using the Apply button. At‑a‑glance Budget: £80,000 (incl. VAT, design, materials, construction, delivery) Audience: Seating ~120, or up to 250 standing with raised stage Indicative footprint: 10–13 m diameter (for circular concepts) Power: Tour-ready (battery/solar/generator compatible). Mains available at Applemore College. Where it goes: Outdoor sites across the New Forest (summer) → Applemore College, Roman Road, Dibden Purlieu, SO45 4RQ (Oct–Jun) Use cases: Music, theatre, dance, spoken word, multimedia; school productions, lectures, talks, celebrations, talent showcases, careers events. Key requirements (what your design should do) Mobility & Deployment Towable or vehicle‑transportable; assembled by a small team; stable on uneven ground. All‑weather Operation Durable materials; shelter for audiences, performers and tech. Flexibility & Functionality Modular/expandable layouts; good outdoor acoustics; FOH/box office + sound/lighting position; adaptable audience capacity. Access, Scheduling & Inclusion Wheelchair access; neuro‑inclusive design; clear, safe circulation and sightlines. Aesthetic & Community Appeal A distinctive visual identity with options for branding/colour schemes. Sustainability Eco‑friendly materials; low‑impact construction; efficient transport & storage. Applemore College site - showing access and area for location of theatre: LOCATION Google map What to submit Please provide: Concept design & 3D visuals (2 × A2 PDFs, ≤10MB each) Transport & storage strategy Company details & contacts Relevant experience & portfolio Design concept & approach (how it meets this brief) Detailed cost breakdown Project timeline & milestones Sustainability approach Any supporting documents (max 2 x A4) How to submit All applications are through NFDC's official procurement portal - Proactis. You will need to register in order to use this portal at: https://procontract.due-north.com/Register Once you have registered you will need to submit your application for the Mobile Theatre Space using the Apply Here link pink button below. You application should include your design boards as PDF's (under 10mb) and all the associated tender documents on the Proactis project page. Apply Here Timeline 19 January (12 noon) — Expressions of Interest deadline 22 January 2026 — Interviews 28 January 2026 — Final artist/team selection February 2026 — Site visits February 2026 — R&D: workplans defined March 2026 — Detailed design presentation March – June 2026 — Production phase 10 July 2026 — Completion & Project Launch July–September 2026 — Youth Arts Festival rollout Evaluation (how we’ll choose) Design Innovation & Suitability Functionality & Adaptability Sustainability & Environmental Impact Experience & Capability Cost‑effectiveness & Value for Money We welcome collaborations between designers, architects, theatre makers, fabricators, and engineering partners. Site & context Touring: Designed for village greens, town squares, car parks, recreation grounds. School base: Applemore College (Oct–Jun) within a ~30 m wide treelined area; mains power available. Local context: Dispersed communities, limited public transport — this venue meets people where they are. Applemore College location Site images Accessibility & inclusion considerations Step‑free routes and wheelchair access to stage and audience areas. Neuro‑inclusive wayfinding & quiet zones; adjustable lighting levels and acoustic treatment. H&S: Safe circulation, secure anchoring/ballast strategy, weather protocols. Sustainability expectations Material choices with low embodied carbon; circular design principles. Efficient transport & storage; modular parts sized for minimal trips. Options for battery/solar integration; shore power ready at school base. Durable, repairable components with maintenance plan. Consultation Work undertaken with young people at Applemore College Feedback from the staff and students at Applemore College: Download Report Further consultation with young people was undertaken with the spudYOUTH Architecture group. FAQ Who can apply? Design/build teams, studios, consortia and collaborations with the capability to deliver both design and construction within budget. What’s the total budget and what must it cover? £80,000 (incl. VAT) covering design, materials, construction and delivery. What audience capacities should we plan for? Approx. 120 seated or up to 250 standing with raised stage. Seating can be lightweight, stackable/foldable and able to be easily stored after events. Do we need to provide power? Designs should be tour‑ready (battery/solar/generator compatible). Mains supply is available at Applemore College. What about storage and transport? Include a clear transport & storage strategy with footprint and load list. The design should be towable/van‑transportable and stable on uneven ground. It should be transportable on roads without creating access issues or the need for escort vehicles. Will branding change by event? Yes—include options for temporary branding, colour schemes or interchangeable cladding/skins. Is there a preferred shape? No, but circular (or semi-circular) concepts often work well outdoors; a 10–13 m footprint is a good benchmark. What are the key selection criteria? See Evaluation above for weightings. All enquiries regarding the procurement process and uploads to Jamie Burton at NFDC: Jamie.Burton@NFDC.gov.uk For further enquiries regarding the competition design aspect: mark@spud.org.uk Apply Here Images: Performances at Applemore College This project is being funded by New Forest District Council using Community Infrastructure Levy contributions and all tenders are through the New Forest District Council Portal.

& Proudly Present: Social Distancing Design Challenge - unleashing the creativity of our young people 11-15 Age Group - Ashvin Solayappan (Rotherham) 16 -18 Age Group - Noah Pearce (Brockenhurst, New Forest) 18 -26 Age Group - Naomi Grice (Ipswich) Congratulations to the 3 winners and well-done everyone on taking part. The judges really enjoyed looking through all the great ideas! The winners are The Winning Ideas: HUMAN TRAFFIC MONITORING Ashvin Solayappan - Aged 12 from Rotherham The human traffic monitoring system is ideal for supermarkets and retail shops. The system will grasp the layout of the wide space(shop) and segregate the shop into sections. It will calculate the area of each section and divides it by 2 metres, this allows the system to predict the number of people permissible in each sector. A deeper look into the technical side There will be a wide range sensor with a LED light at the beginning and end of every sector. There will be 2 lights, red and green. The red light means you cannot go into the sector because there are too many people. The green light means you can go into the sector. These kits are intelligent because they continuously exchange data with each other and the unit at the entrance of the shops. This system allows the management of traffic in a store at any given time. SOCIALLY DISTANCED BENCH ADAPTATION Noah Pearce - Aged 17 from Brockenhurst, New Forest I have designed an outdoor seat to be attached to any existing bench in order to allow people to use it together whilst still following social distancing advice. As benches are roughly two metres wide only one person or household group can use them at once. My solution allows people from different households to meet up and keep two metres apart. Any existing bench can be adapted, whether in a park, on a footpath or in a hospital or care home setting. The seat itself will be made from wood on a metal frame, with a wooden supporting leg. The attachment will have a metal frame and metal plates, and this will be topped with a wooden plank so that it doesn’t look out of place on the bench. I see each seat costing around £50 for materials and manufacturing. My idea will allow family members, young and old, to meet up again comfortably without worrying about where they’re going to sit if they go out on a walk, as benches are accessible for the young and the old. TWO-WAY CHAIR Naomi Grice - Aged 19 from Ipswich My idea is a two way chair that allows people to see each other, while still being protected in a post COVID-19 world. It consists of two half sphere chairs looking diagonally at each other with a glass screen between them. I've also factored in space for wheelchair users to enjoy the space as well. there is a table area on each side that can be used for a number of activities with further development. These could include innovative games that can be played with the glass screen inbetween, or TV screens built in to allow for watching. movie simultaneously. My vision is that it would be used in hospitals and care homes, for friends and family to visit their loved ones. the difference that it would make in my community would be that it would be protecting my mum and many of her colleagues. Polypropylene plastic would be used for the main construction as it comes in many colours and can be easily shaped. This would then be covered in a specialist material that inhibits bacterial and micro-organism growth, The Competition: Are you aged between 11 and 26? Are you a creative, lateral thinker who loves coming up with new ideas? If so, our new challenge is for you! We are looking for proactive young people to create unique and innovative ideas that follow new social distancing rules so that young and old can meet safely in a post COVID-19 world. Perhaps it is a play structure, a two-way chair or even an exciting game? Wherever your inventiveness takes you, this is your chance to create something new and imaginative that could genuinely make a difference to the people involved and to your local community. And through this open-innovation challenge, we can help you turn your idea into reality. Winners may get to work with industry experts, mentors and potentially even manufacturers and investors to get their idea into the marketplace, gaining invaluable experience as well as a £250 cash prize! Terms and Conditions: Click Here Data Privacy: Click Here Policies are written in accordance with our project partner 49.

Plant a flower in the SPUD Giving Garden and help our community grow! Step into the spudWORKS Giving Garden, a permanent, living, digital world where you can explore the grounds, discover dedications from fellow supporters, and plant your own permanent flower to send a message of kindness, brighten someone's day or remember a loved one. Donate an amount of your choice to plant a virtual flower, add a personal message and watch it grow in our shared garden. Every flower planted becomes a lasting symbol of our SPUD community and makes a valuable contribution to our mission to support the well-being and ambition of communities through creativity. PLEASE NOTE: The Giving Garden will only work on a desktop computer and not a mobile phone. Please wait....loading It may take a few seconds for the spudWORKS Garden to load. Once loaded click on the garden to start. X Choose Flower Select Name Message Next Please enter a donation amount to grow a flower Donation Amount * £5 £10 Custom Yes, I want to Gift Aid my donation Sorry! You need to donate minimum £5 Back Donate & plant "I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference." Full Name Full Home address Postcode X Click on the ground to choose a location We value your privacy. Your data is stored securely and never shared with third parties. Press Play to turn sound ON/OFF Start Planting CANCEL Instructions To donate and plant a flower in the SPUD Giving Garden: Click the green 'Start Planting' button on the right. Choose the location for your flower by clicking in the garden - if you change your mind, click the black 'cancel' button. A pop-up window will appear - use the dropdown menu to choose from the list of flowers. Add your name (or that of a friend or loved one) and leave a message. A new pop-up window will appear and you'll be asked to choose your donation amount. If you are a UK tax payer, please select the Gift Aid option to add 25% from HMRC to your donation. You will then be taken through the secure payment options to pay by credit or debit card, or PayPal. Once you've completed your payment, you'll be returned to the garden to watch your flower grow! Click on your flower to see the name and message appear in the top right hand corner of the garden. Help our Giving Garden grow by sharing the link - www.spud.org.uk/giving-garden Thank you for your support - every flower planted makes a positive difference to our community!

The New Forest National Park Artist in Residence Click on the button below to go to information on the current and past resident artists: Melanie Rose - Residency and Exhibition My name is Melanie Rose and I am a painter and post-doctoral fellow at the University of Leeds, although I live in Hampshire. My work is about place and the next 12 months the place that I will be investigating is the New Forest. The New Forest was saved from enclosure in 1877 through a determined campaign of exhibitions held in London featuring the New Forest landscape. This action through art happened simultaneously to the opening of Yellowstone National Park and Fontainebleau State Park demonstrating a compulsion at the time to protect specific landscapes from industrialisation. This legacy is the starting point for my residency as I undertake to understand this unique landscape through painting and how art can be used as a vehicle for change. Painting is core to my investigation into this place, both the act of making paintings in response to the New Forest as well as looking at historical paintings featuring the New Forest landscape. A key feature to emerge from looking at historical paintings is that landscape is ‘over there’ a theory so deeply ingrained as to disconnect us from nature. We are always ‘looking at’ landscape from a distance. I am interested in how to disrupt this pattern of looking as well as how to open up conversations about landscapes that are important to us, and the role artists play in creating avenues of debate. Melanie will be in Residence at spudWORKS throughout May 2023 and exhibiting in the spudWORKS Gallery during October 2023. Come back here next year to follow Melanie's residency or follow on SPUD's Instagram: spud.org.uk Week 1 Orientation The 1st of May 2023 is a Monday and the start of my month-long residency in the New Forest. Having prepared materials and equipment in advance, I am good to go, but where and with what aims. My first plein air excursion was to a recently visited magnificent ancient Oak at Gritnam Wood. Some might say the forest is magic, as this beautiful, gnarled Oak with elephantine protrusions had vanished into thin air or possibly the depths of the forest. So, my first set of field sketches are the roots of an upended Beech tree, but to all extents and purposes I had begun my journey into painting this rare and beautiful place. The following day I paid homage to landscape painting, by visiting the chest tomb of William Gilpin (1724 – 1804) at St John the Baptist at Boldre. Gilpin’s theories about the picturesque will frame much of my thinking about how we look at landscape: …but whosoever examines the wild combinations of a forest (which is a delightful study to a picturesque eye) and compares them with the attempts of art, has little taste if he do not acknowledge, with astonishment, the superiority of Nature’s workmanship. (Gilpin, Remarks on Forest Scenery and Other Woodland Views 1791) But for now, my aim, is to make intuitive field sketches in oil paint, which I did on the way home at Shirley Holmes (carpark), a landscape rich in archaeology, whilst thinking about Gilpin and the picturesque. The following day was a visit to Mark Ash Wood with PaC an organisation of practicing artists’ commons. Like Gilpin, Mark Ash Wood will become significant, but on this warm, sunny day, the forest floor was alive with spiders and wood ants. I have never seen anything like it in my life, the entire forest floor was alive and moving, everywhere including up my trouser legs, which I rolled up whilst drawing the magnificent Beech trees as they were springing into full leaf, in charcoal. One of the members of PaC was reading aloud from Gorley (1910) a book by Heywood Sumner (1853 – 1940). Sumner a renowned painter, illustrator and archaeologist had divided the Forest into three sections, North, Middle and South. Here was my system about how I would embark exploring this diverse and unusual landscape. Week 2 Middling Ab out The plan this week is to explore the Middle and Southern sections of the Forest, following in Heywood Sumner’s footsteps. Ridley Wood “stands on the South-Eastern side of the highroad from Ringwood to Cadnam…this fine old wood of pollard Beeches…is approached by a hollow-way, and there is authentic hearsay tradition that this concealed hollow was used as a meeting place by smugglers…” The day I visited, lightning was forecast and weirdly the tree limb I was perched on (it was too big to sit on) was from the scorched scar of a lightning strike on the tree in front of me – I took this as an omen. South - (Ivy Wood) My aim was Denny Wood, but access was an issue, so I headed back along the Beaulieu Road, with views of the Isle of Wight to my left as I headed back across wide open, Gorse covered heathland and “bustle-headed” trees shaped by offshore prevailing winds. My next thought was Woodfidley, but that is now Private Property, so I ended up next to a meandering brook in Ivy Wood. Pondhead Inclosure & Charcoal Burning: Pondhead is Crown land and has been officially managed by an award-winning conservation trust since 2014. Spearheaded by Dave Dibden and Derek Tippetts, this beautiful woodland, unlike the rest of the forest doesn’t have the famous browse line as ponies and cattle are fenced out. Derek met me at the gate and took me on a tour of the woodland before introducing me to Mike and Phil who had been busy since early that morning, lighting the kilns to make charcoal. I spent the rest of the day listening to conversations about the Forest whilst drawing scenes of this ancient craft. Week 3 NORTH Anses Wood: “old Beech, Oak and Holly…bounded by the twisting upper course of Dockenswater which perfects the charm of this, the most beautifully wooded bottom in the Northern area.” (Sumner, 1924) The day I visited Anses Wood (mid-May) it was freezing, even with waterproofs and woolly hat, but determined, I sat out and painted both the ancient woodland and pond with waterfowl including, protective Canada Geese and their goslings. By the evening the wind had changed direction and the sun felt warm again, perfect timing for a six-mile circular walk from Sway, with New Forest guide Robbie Steen. Taking in forest and heath, valley-mire and river, Steen brought the landscape to life by pointing out features of interest including a four-hundred-year-old Badger set, Neolithic burial sites, ancient tracks and wildlife. Bolderwood - Radnor Trail & Barrow Moor: On this day, I didn’t get as far North as planned but took myself on a New Forest National Park trail. The perfect way to access the forest, although my preferences are less managed places where the only paths are made by animals. which I found at Barrow Moor. In the evening I met up with Jim Mitchell from the New Forest National Park who took us out to listen to Nightjars. Not only did we hear this nocturnal bird which according to the RSPB has “an almost supernatural reputation with their silent flight and their mythical ability to steal milk from goats” but one flew over our heads and then not long after that, in near darkness a Barn Owl flew along the treeline. Fritham: Standing barefoot on soft springy moss in a circle of ancient Oaks is both grounding and restorative. The act of standing still in ancient woodland out of earshot of cars is a form of meditation as is, for me, drawing, which also slows the mind. Focused concentration not only solidifies visual information, but time elapses. North & South Heading North through the Ornamental Drive, high up on the heath are two solitary trees that have been struck by lightning. Today they are sun-bleached, skeletal monuments standing proud on the skyline, drawing in the passer-by for a closer look. Crossing back to the car I noticed a solitary wooden cross. The Canadian War Memorial to soldiers stationed in the New Forest during WW2 before the D-Day Invasion. The gated memorial revealed wreaths, poppies, mementoes, and photographs to those killed in battle. The location added to the poignancy of loss. Heading further North to Fordingbridge, I set out to visit the statue of the painter Augusts John. Researching dates and location, I would think Heywood Sumner and John may have crossed paths, certainly John was a controversial character, not particularly liked by villagers as well as an inconsistent painter compared to his sister Gwen, whose paintings surpass her brothers. Then back South via sand dunes at Linford a Mediaeval enclosure to the The Turfcutters Arms and their Listening Station https://www.the-turfcutters-new-forest.co.uk/east-boldre-oral-history-project/ before walking out across the heath adjacent to the pub to locate the Beaulieu Letters carved into the ground to mark a landing strip during WWI. New Forest National Park Residencies Homepage

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Sway Youth Projects This is an anonymous survey to help understand young peoples views (from 12-18) on the facilities that are provided to support people in Sway and Tiptoe. It is your opportunity to have your voice heard and influence decision makers as they plan for the future. It is also a first step and there is an opportunity to participate further through creative workshops facilitated by SPUD, the creative agency within Sway, to start to develop your ideas into real plans. The survey should take less than 5 minutes to complete. Thanks for taking part! The Questionnaire is now closed and we will be updating this page soon with more information and opportunities to engage with the next steps.... Check back soon!