€¦ · Web viewACTIVITY REPORT. January – March 2015. 16. Introduction. Well into the theme for its second year ‘Exmoor’s Inspiring Landscapes (Woodlands)’, activity from

ACTIVITY REPORT

January – March 2015

Introduction

Well into the theme for its second year ‘Exmoor’s Inspiring Landscapes (Woodlands)’, activity from January to March 2015 is set out in the table below, following the same format as within the Action Plan submitted in the original bid for funding. There are additional elements at the end of the table which pick up uncompleted activity from Year 1, or where activities are continuing into Year 2.

Please refer to the Project spreadsheets which document the figures used within the table below. The table sets out an ongoing tally of outputs for the entire Project (column 4), quantifying activity since August 2013. Targets for Year 2 appear in column 2, and then the overall tally of activity for Year 2 appears in column 3. For a full written description of activity for each quarter of the Project please refer to previous reports which set this out in detail.

Activity Targets - Year 2 Tally - Year 2 Tally – whole Project

Status and Activity Since Last Report

Review of year 1 activitiesin consultation with the project advisory group and volunteers

1 1 1 As a Team we took time-out from Project activities to discuss the ‘bigger picture’ of the Project headline aims. This was a very useful exercise and helped us to re-focus our energies during the planning of events and activities for 2015 so as to develop sustainable outputs with a longer legacy.

Volunteers, staff, Advisory Group members and Exmoor National Park colleagues were all canvassed for their views following Year 1. The findings have helped to set the course of activity for Year 2. In addition the Project Team have produced a ‘glossy’ summary to promote Year 1 highlights.

Call for Volunteers Advertise & recruit

Maintain 20+ volunteers to deliver project activities. Aim to recruit at

48 vols signed up

60 vols signed up

14 under 25s

43 volunteer days were contributed to the Project this quarter:

23 days of unskilled volunteer activity 12 skilled 8 professional

1

ACTIVITY REPORT




least 8 young people 16-25 to the group.

17 active vols Delivered by 35 volunteers, 2 of which were under 25.

Regular heritage talk, walk, tour programme with local societies around the theme of Exmoor’s Inspiring Landscapes (woodlands)

24 walks, talks, tours, trails

16

291 people attended

51

1413 people attended

6 events were organised during this quarter:

5 evening talks under the banner of ‘Evenings@thePavilion’:o Gig Rowing in North Devon by Bob Thompsono The Hoar Oak Project by Bette Baldwin & Will Bowdeno Pastel Drawing by John Crusho Tales of Viewing Exmoor’s Dark Starry Skies by Seb Jay

1 evening talk delivered by the Project’s Heritage Ambassador on the topic of the Lynmouth Flood Disaster, to the Bratton Fleming History Society to which around 25 people came.

92 people attended these events.Training for volunteers 15 days of

expert time for training. Specifically 4 sessions per year to train as Heritage

5 vol training events. 8 days of expert time.

22 total attendance

13 vol training events

87 total attendance

2 events were delivered this quarter, in addition to the heritage walk leader training events:

Oral History/Memory Recording training Tuesday 24th March - volunteer induction for Pavilion volunteers

These events involved 6 days of expert time.

2

ACTIVITY REPORT




Volunteers Launch Heritage theme memory challenge

One theme every two months, 10 new responses on average

4 themes

16 responses

4 themes16 responses

During this quarter the ‘Your Exmoor’ section has displayed the themes of: Working Woodlands & Inspiring Woodlands

At the end of each one we have held special celebration events to encourage people to share memories and experiences around each theme (see Your Exmoor Heritage Activity Day Workshops below)

Delivery of heritage challenges with community youth groups

6 weekly sessions (1 day/ week) with 12 young people to explore the theme. Create a temporary exhibition documenting their activities and experiences

0.5 + 0.5 1 Young Champions from the Mosaic Youth Project have set themselves the challenge of photographing different aspects of Exmoor and to hold an exhibition of their best ones, within their predefined categories. To start them off they went on a photographic safari with local safari company Experience Exmoor. They also had a special photo workshop run by the University of Plymouth.

Exmoor Young Farmers are still busy recording memories and hopes about Exmoor’s Hill Farming across the generations, culminating in an exhibition later in 2015.

2 more challenges, one for the region’s schools and one for the region’s colleges (“Exmoor Uncut” and “Exmoor Revealed”) are set for August 2015, each running for 3 or 4 days. Some places are already filled.

The Ilfracombe Academy is keen to progress this activity strand and discussions are continuing so as to firm up an approach.

3

ACTIVITY REPORT




In October 2015 the Project will be delivering this challenge in partnership with the National Trust as part of Year 3 activity.

The Project Team are working with Mosaic Young Champions in a challenge to walk an Exmoor pony and camp out on Exmoor. The activities will be filmed as part of the Project.

We are also in discussion with Sneaky Fox to deliver a John Muir Award over three weekends with a group of young people from the Minehead area.

Temporary exhibition – e.g. Louisa Lifeboat

2000 viewings Relates to the above activity.

Temporary exhibition with West Exmoor Federation (of Year 1 work)

1 exhibition130 school children taking part in exhibition and 1000 visits

3 small exhibitions

Currently in the exhibition calendar to be displayed in March 2016, and to cover their seashore safaris, sculpture workshop, light drawing work as part of the National Big Draw campaign, their Viking re-enactment on Countisbury Hill as well as their woodland work this year.

Family Fun day with West Exmoor Federation

Successful delivery of the day300 people attending, 8 seaside

1 event

25 people attending

1 event

25 people attending

Planning a Lynmouth Coastal Adventure Day during the Exmoor Coast Festival which will draw local families as well as visitors.

4

ACTIVITY REPORT




safaris, sea shanty show,

Recruitment and training of year 2 volunteer heritage placements

2 x6 week placements and structured training programmeRecruit 2 placements in Yr 2 months 15 & 19And further 2 placements in Yr 2 month 19

0 One Heritage Placement

8 work experience placements

Ilfracombe Academy have been approached several times with this element of the Project in mind but no takers or buy-in to date.

Temporary exhibitions – Year 2

2 in year 2

30 people taking part in creating exhibitions and 2000 visits

12 exhibitions

8600 people viewing

26 exhibitions

18050 people viewing

4 exhibitions have been displayed during this quarter:

o The Romantic Poets Exhibition moved mid-January to the Rest & Be Thankful pub at Wheddon Cross, continuing its journey along the Coleridge Way

o The WW1 community exhibition remained in St Mary’s Church, Lynton until end March

o The Hope Bourne Exhibition was shown in the Pavilion during January

5

ACTIVITY REPORT




and February, by The Exmoor Societyo Devon Wildlife Trust exhibited about Exmoor’s shore as part of their

Shoresearch Project during March

An estimated 3800 people viewed these exhibitions.

Testing of the mobile App

100 people to trial the app and provide feedback

The App is available to download but is waiting for content to be uploaded – audio pieces have been commissioned (capturing both natural and cultural heritage).

Your Exmoor heritage activity day workshops

Target to deliver 14 workshops for year 2 themes; 14 new activities designed;10 people per workshop average;100 creative responses to the heritage

7 events

137 people attended

20 on average per event

29 events

471 people attended

16 on average per event

There was 1 event this quarter:

The Working Woodlands event attracted 12 people who brought in old photos and magazines to scan. ENPA Woodland Officer led the session and explained about how Exmoor’s Woodlands would have been vibrant places alive with people stripping oak bark for tanning, coppicing, pollarding, charcoal burning, tree-felling and working heavy horses to remove chopped timber. Families would have lived in the woods while undertaking this work, with children, dogs and fires. Participants also viewed original maps and documents relating to the proposed tree planting which led to Exmoor National Park’s designation, had opportunity to interrogate the Historic Environment Record, and compared woodland maps from the 1st edition to the present day maps to see changes in the extent of woodland.

6

ACTIVITY REPORT




generated in year 2; Volunteers trained to lead

The Project has commissioned a Heritage Workshop Facilitator to develop 10 bespoke, self-contained new workshops which volunteers will be trained to deliver into the future.

Family learning days 8 family days 4 events

187 people attending

31 events


0 Family Learning Days occurred this quarter owing to the time of year, however plenty are planned for the rest of the year during Easter and onwards.

Taster sessions for new audiences

8 per year (more on request)

40 people visiting

Production of 12 pieces of content

3 session

76 people attending

21 sessions


Two taster sessions were run during this quarter:

Exmoor National Park Team Study day: this involved a shore safari followed by a microscope session in the Audio-Visual Theatre.

1 full day 4x4 Photographic safari for the Mosaic Young Champions

21 people attended these sessions in total

Visitor days 12 visitor activity days ; Advertised by 20 local businesses

16 events

301 people attended

11 businesses

29 events 4 events were organised linked to local businesses, to which 32 people came:

Umber Music continue to hold their Moor Music sessions, celebrating the music and song of Exmoor. They are branching out to incorporate other venues through 2015 and have encouraged publicans to

7

ACTIVITY REPORT




involved contribute towards their performance fee in a few cases. Their first session for 2015 was held in March with 18 people joining-in.

3 Stained Glass Workshops were held with Glorious Glass to which 14 people came.

Deliver Local Interpreter sessions

4 sessions per year to develop 20 local heritage champions, tour guides and walk leaders.

3 sessions delivered (Wells, Porlock x 2)

6 volunteers trained specifically as heritage walk leaders

9 Local Heritage Interpreters trained, now leading guided walks

3 specific sessions training sessions (1 Walk Leader, 1 Heritage Interpretation, 1 shoreline-guide)

The Volunteer Coordinator developed a 3-phase training programme for volunteers wishing to become Heritage Walk Leaders:

1 Visit to Wells for top-tips training from professional city guide2 Training event in Porlock covering health & safety, conducting

dynamic risk assessments, managing a group3 Assessment event in Porlock leading to certification

The volunteer Heritage Walk Leaders will run a few walks at the beginning of the 2015 season and then will have their profiles listed-up for booking by phone from then on

Delivery of rolling programme of heritage workshops for West

Fortnightly Exmoor heritage

1 Vikings Attack! evening

1 Viking/Anglo Saxon costume and

For delivery during the next quarter are various expert sessions to explore Exmoor’s trees. The end result will be ‘Top Trunks’ produced by the children. Planned so far are woodworking demonstrations within school, including

8

ACTIVITY REPORT




Exmoor Federation sessions Primary school children (approx 130) to attend at least one session over the year.

Production of a young person’s woodlands guide, temporary exhibition and hedgerow ‘cookbook’

22 children attended with families and teachers

battle day, attended by 53 children

1 amazing in-situ re-enactment of Hubba the Dane attacking Countisbury Hill, fully costumed and scripted

74 children engaged in total since project start

2 mini-films

1 slideshow

3 temporary exhibitions

working in green wood coppiced from a local valley (Combe Park), wood technology, a ranger-led woodland walk to learn about edible trees and biodiversity for each species, plus a trip to a charcoal production site. Added to that may well be an archaeological exploration of an old charcoal site. These will continue to be developed with the schools.

Combe Martin Sea School are developing a shore guide by children for children, considering the different shore life along Exmoor’s coast (from Porlock in the East to Combe Martin in the West), for delivery during the next quarter.

9

ACTIVITY REPORT




Heritage Open Day Events (1 per year; need to catch-up on undelivered Year 1 event)

500 people attending over the weekend;

0 0 None delivered during this quarter.

The Lee Abbey estate will be opening up their woodlands and parts of the Abbey itself during May 2015 with guided walks, as a Heritage Open Day, but not linked to the national scheme.

The Woolhanger Estate near Parracombe are also progressing plans to hold an Open Day during 2015, showing people around their stunning music room and lakeside walks, with guides and a cream tea!

Heritage AV production with College students

1 audio-visual production.

3 short films 8 short films The Autumn time-lapse footage was disappointing as the weather conditions meant that the leaves suddenly turned brown then fell off, without their usual display of colour! Various attempts at editing the footage has been undertaken by a volunteer, putting it to music, with some success.

We have installed the time-lapse camera to capture the emergence of Spring and await excitedly to see how that turns out.

We have commissioned a film to show ‘Old Lynmouth’ before the flood using old B&W images with special 3D software.

North Devon Schools and College Challenge (landscape photography competition.)

250 entries ; a successful dynamic poster

2 competitions

257 entries

2 competitions

257 entries

Production of the Exmoor bunting has proved to be a challenge but during this quarter we have found a local printer who can help. Once produced, the bunting will hopefully be sold to parents and families of the winning children.

In partnership with PlantLife the Project helped to promote, secure judges

10

ACTIVITY REPORT




and award prizes for the Wonderful Woodlands photographic competition. Deadline for entries was end of January 2015 and just 197 valid entries were received: 117 in the 18+ group, 67 in the 11-17 group and 13 in the under 11s, from all across the South West of England (Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks and the Quantocks AONB). The award ceremony is set for 1st April 2015 and over 100 people have been invited from across the region.

Ilfracombe Academy were keen to be involved in a landscape photography competition as well but in following this up they have requested to delay this until after the exam period, in July.

Community events for Exmoor residents

Aim for 3 events each year ; 20 people attending on average per event; inviting people to discuss around a heritage theme and view new content

2 events

87 people attended

6 events

217 people attended

None delivered during this quarter as our Heritage Ambassador has been tied up delivering other local events.

The newly formed Woodcombe Community Woodland are keen to hold a woodland BBQ or similar during the Summer and a site visit has taken place during this quarter and a plan of possible activities has been drawn up, to be developed further during the next quarter.

Deliver 8 Education days schools across wider Exmoor

1 school 1 online resource being

The Lyn Education Resource continues to be developed, aiming for a launch towards the end of June. A variety of associated films are now available on

11

ACTIVITY REPORT




to attend a field studies day to access and use Your Exmoor heritage content, and to help develop an online resource for schools as part of the project. 5 different schools/colleges attending + 100 children

30 individuals developed

13 education sessions

343 children

the ENPA Youtube channel. A visit of 30 from South Molton school trialled the practical aspects of the resource in March.

Deliver 2 Educator days/ mini-conference

2 days in year 2

30 educators overall

0 6 educator events

None delivered during this quarter but the Project is hosting the DESWIG (Devon outdoor educators forum) annual meeting in April.

Learning packs exist in the form of Tracker Packs, containing education material specific to the coast theme from Year 1 and the woodland theme

12

ACTIVITY REPORT




Identify curriculum and learning content for 3 learning packs based on the 3 yearly heritage themes

from year 2.

Our key project partner – ENPA - has produced a new Woodland Guide Leaflet timed to fit in with our Woodland year.

We are on the hunt for a local expert to write a shore guide for the Project. Maya Plass has declined but we are hoping that the Living Seas Ambassador for the Wildlife Trusts will take this up, in addition to that produced by the Combe Martin Sea School.

Deliver local business information days

2

10 local businesses attending

0 6 business information days

175 people attended (average of 29 people per event)

None delivered during this quarter. The Project is partnering ENPA’s delivery of the ‘Woodlands’ Exmoor Awareness business-facing day-long event in April.

Mystery heritage trail (geocache) – from year 1

1 0.5 0.5 A heritage trail is hardwired into the mobile App

13

ACTIVITY REPORT




Iconic heritage campaign -from year 1

Target 1000 votes ; 10 distinct heritage items selected; Exhibited July 2014

0 0 Several exciting meetings have been held to take this section of work forwards, involving individuals who ran the highly successful competition and launch of the Exmoor Flag in 2014. They are working up plans to involve the full extent of Exmoor’s communities in a stand-alone Icon Campaign for which they will draw-in additional funding and sponsorship from around the region. Ideas include mapping the ‘Stag’ constellation over Exmoor, each star being an Icon, as well as working with schools to create riddles linking the Icons together along the Trail.

The aim is for an Exmoor Icon Trail to be in place for Easter 2016 and to run for the rest of the season.

14

ACTIVITY REPORT


Additional Outputs

Not included within the Action Plan above are additional outputs which are recorded in the Outputs spreadsheet, namely:

Activity Targets (Year 2)

Tally Year 2

Status

Audio-visual productions 3 overall 4 No additional films completed during this quarter.

An audio recording of the River Lyn, harbour, beach and rockpools commissioned last year has now been made live in the National Park Centre. Triggered by motion, it plays to visitors as they peruse a large artist’s painting showing the species most commonly found on the shore at Lynmouth.

Digital ‘stories’ – responses to Exmoor as part of the Your Exmoor Project (young person’s, children’s, family and visitor content)

100 74 A family who volunteer for the Project produced a lovely iPad story about Exmoor in Spring which is now live within the National Park Centre.

A sound recording artist will be out and about recording 20 stories this Spring to upload onto the Mobile App.

An oral history recorder will be interviewing 8 individuals involved in different aspects of woodland management from a commercial angle, covering small to large scale forestry, deciduous and evergreen timber as well as a nursery.

Plans are taking shape to run a small-scale oral history project to capture the history of the hamlet of Culbone deep within Culbone Wood, in partnership with The Culbone Inn.

The Young Farmers are still busy collecting stories across the generations on Exmoor Hill Farms.

15

ACTIVITY REPORT



Tally Year 2

Status

Outreach No specific target

Meetings with:

West Exmoor Federation Combe Martin Sea School Ilfracombe Academy National Trust ENPA Woodlands Team Lyn & Exmoor Museum Akulah Agbami on behalf of Taunton Kids Club Mosaic Young Champions Plymouth University The Culbone Inn Woolhanger Estate PlantLife Devon Wildlife Trust / Shoresearch Exmoor Arts

Launch and Celebration events No specific target

3 events126 people attending

No specific events held this quarter – plans are taking shape for a Summer BBQ at Woodcombe Community Woodland

Children involved/represented/engaged through Project activities

No specific target

460 During Year 2 (from September 2014 to end March 2015)

16

ACTIVITY REPORT



Tally Year 2

Status

Members of the public involved/engaged through Project activities

No specific target

10481 During Year 2 (from September 2014 to end March 2015)

Summary

Based on the findings of the 1st Year Review, the Project Team have changed focus a little from Year 1 in which there was an over-delivery in some areas of the Project while some areas remained undelivered. Namely:

There is a greater concentration on promotion and communication, including use of social media and Hootsuit to ensure that as many locals and visitors as possible are aware of events taking place.

There is also an increased focus on the collection of digital stories and responses from people attending events and activities. The Team are working-up more partnership-based projects to i) deepen the buy-in with the Project across Exmoor ii) alleviate pressure on themselves

and to iii) funnel delivery away from the core volunteers who were at risk of feeling overloaded(!). For example with the Icon Campaign and in developing the 10 Your Exmoor Heritage Workshops. Fewer ‘events’ are scheduled and the Team are channelling energy instead into developing links with schools and other Exmoor-based organisations.

With the Heritage Officer having dropped to 3 days per week we are finalising the information pack ready to advertise for a new ‘backfill’ post. We envisage this individual will add immense value to the Project in terms of interpreting the oral histories and digital stories collected through the Project to date and into the future, and develop new ways in which this material might link-in to the educational offer across Exmoor. The Team are excited about this development.

Highlights have included:

17

ACTIVITY REPORT


the completed film components for the Lyn Education Resource commissioning exciting film and audio work handing over the Evening Talks to a team of volunteers who now also offer refreshments! discussions with partners – The Culbone Inn, Exmoor Icon Campaign, Combe Martin Sea School, West Exmoor Federation, and Woodcombe

Community Woodland in particular the Heritage Walk Leader training component which took the volunteers off to Wells and then Porlock for them to achieve certification.

18

Documents

€¦ · Web viewACTIVITY REPORT. January – March 2015. 16. Introduction. Well into the theme for its second year ‘Exmoor’s Inspiring Landscapes (Woodlands)’, activity from