Keswick’s National Trust team has hosted its first public event online as it explores the connection humans have with the natural world.
Held earlier this month, it was part of the project Desire Lines, an ongoing place-based art project led by artist Rebecca Beinart at the town’s Crow Park.
Desire Lines explores the connections humans have with the natural world and Rebecca is working with local people to get to know Crow Park, which has been protected by the National Trust since 1935, from different perspectives.
She will be asking how a special connection with a local green space can influence the way people think about global issues of climate change, ecology and access.
The National Trust team in Keswick hosted the free event on March 4, with writers Wallace Heim and Maya Chowdhry reading from their work and then discussing themes of art, ecology, climate justice and land access with Rebecca, including questions and a group discussion from online participants.
“Online talks may sound old-hat after a year of lockdowns and everything going online from choirs to yoga, but we’re really excited to have hosted our first public event online,” said Jessie Binns, who is co-ordinating the project for the National Trust.
“In a time where we can’t hold face-to-face events, it’s a new way of engaging with the communities who live beside the places we care for on behalf of the nation and we had some fascinating discussions.”
A total of 28 people attended the online event and it will be followed up by a series of three free online creative writing workshops led by Rebecca and Wallace.
The project is part of Trust New Art, the National Trust’s programme of contemporary arts, supported with public funding by Arts Council England.
People can find out more about the project at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/desire-lines.
