A day of discovery and creativity at the Land of Oak and Iron

Families from Rowlands Gill Primary School joined artist Megan Randall recently for a joyful and imaginative walk through the Land of Oak and Iron.

The walk was part of the Riverside Routes x Tyne Derwent Way Schools and Communities Programme. The families explored the River Derwent's rich natural and industrial heritage while taking part in creative activities guided by Meg. The walk encouraged them to connect with local spaces together in new and meaningful ways.

Across two 90-minute walks, children and adults took part in:

• nature treasure hunts,encouraging careful exploration of the space
• sound recordings, tuning into the landscape through rustling leaves and squelching mud
• drawing on leaves, then launching them from the Butterfly Bridge and sending their creations downstream
• building settlements for mythical creatures like fairies and goblins, inspiring some conversations about town planning! Synthetic materials were removed but we hope other visitors to the area may have come across these imaginative creations and been inspired to tell their own stories. 

The day was filled with discovery. One parent shared plant knowledge with the group, while others reflected that they wouldn't usually do this sort of thing. Feedback was positive, with participants describing the walk as "very special."  

The family walk highlighted the value of creative, accessible activities that bring families together and make cultural engagement feel playful and accessible. 

The Gateshead Arts Development Team hopes family walks linked to school projects will deepen the strong ties that already exist between schools and their communities. Activities like these help to make creativity part of everyday life and show that a creative walk can be an accessible and low-cost way to improve health and wellbeing. 

 

Creative Producer Elizabeth Kane said: "This is the second of three family walks along a different part of the Tyne Derwent Way with school partners. What we have heard is how much families appreciate slowing down and exploring places on their doorstep. We hope they continue to visit the Tyne Derwent Way and find these moments of joy."