Over the last two weeks we have had Walk the Plank – a performing arts charity – hosting events for us. This started off with a creative arts and crafts session, which led into a much larger project… read on to learn more!
The session began with an amazing puppet show. This was set in a young girls bedroom and focused on her story about being unable to fall asleep, and how here mind wandered to the moths. This set the scene for our arts and crafts.
The session revolved around using acrylic paints and paper to make bunting. It was incredible to see how such a simple process could lead to such a striking outcome. The moths provided a solid link between the story and the theme of the walk, and made us reflect on our own role in nature. 
These moths then were taken by Walk the Plank, and just like a moth coming out of a cocoon, the art itself was transformed into bunting which was displayed along the light trail.
The session was received amazingly by our service users who attended. We are extremely grateful for the work that Walk the Plank have put into creating this amazing event, the art simply speaks for itself.
But lets circle back to that light trail I mentioned… Walk the Plank offered us the chance to see the light trail – the very same one that we had had the opportunity to make banners for.
We set out on a cold night, only to have our heart warmed by what we saw. The Wilder Wanders trail had a stunning display that would even put Blackpool illumination’s to shame. The theme of the walk was a reflection on our role in nature, our duty to safeguard it, and the hopes and dreams of Rochdale’s youth.
The motif of nature ran throughout the walk, which was held on the RSPCA carpark by Hollingworth Lake. Where else is better to hold a nature inspired walk than in one of our local nature hotspots? The route had plenty of animals, insects and nature inspired art, providing not only impressive visuals but also a thought provoking message about the fragility of an ever disappearing natural world.
The walk inspired me to think about what I can do to safeguard nature, and I am sure that it will have had such a profound impact on others too. Not only that, but our service users had an incredible time wandering and seeing the results of all the hard work by Walk the Plank.
The walk finished with an amazing visual display projected against a giant baby. This was a beautiful way to finish the walk in itself – but the baby served as the mouth piece of Rochdale’s youth. It told us about their hopes and dreams, their visions of a better future. It was such a moving experience then, and even in writing this I am getting emotional. It is not possible to describe in words the profound message of a giant baby, but it is an experience that will stay with all who saw it for the rest of their lives.
