Skinningrove
Do It Yourself |
THE HABITAT PROJECT
Report by Jean Grant
March 2001
Habitat was the half term art project for the village. Three adult
volunteers
and about fifteen young people were involved each day throughout the
project.
It was planned as a special project for the young people, relating to
the flood
and yet constructively moving away from it. It also examined the
problem that
there is nowhere for young people to go in the village and no
facilities for
them |
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Like everything in my
Revisions project
it relates
to water pollution and sustainable self help.
We were very lucky with the weather: sunshine for the whole week. Even
on the
days it snowed we worked outside.
Our aim was to use fallen tree trunks brought down the beck to create a
special
place and to improve a deserted, litter-strewn area of the village.
Unfortunately we could not afford planning permission so the thrones
and benches
we made have now gone to their owners’ gardens.
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The young people claimed the
site for a
week with a
flag. They decided to put the village slogan on the flag:
‘Do It Yourself’
The flag was drawn out and the name of everyone who had taken part in
the
project was written on it.
Then Amy, who had taken on organising the flag, found the problems of
trying to
get the flag into its hollow pole, which was well above her head. Her
grin, when
after an exhausting half-hour of struggle, she finally managed to
‘do it
herself ‘ was a joy to see.
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We used 3” thick planks
of
timber, chisels and
handsaws, and medieval nail less joints. The hard work and dedication,
helping
each other in very difficult circumstances, left me with nothing but
admiration
for their perseverance.
The thrones were put together with wedges and put on the site for the
afternoon
of the final day. There was a bonfire and a drumming session.
The young people are now thinking it might be possible to make a garden
shed.
Maybe they will have collected enough stuff by the summer….? |
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| Thanks
to: |
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| The
young people themselves |
The
adult volunteers |
Skelton
and Gillan Estate |
| Redcar
and Cleveland Council |
Loftus
Development Trust |
Esmee
Fairbairn Trust |
| Regional
Arts Lottery |
Hamlyn
Foundation |
Cleveland
Community Foundation |
| Normanby
Charitable Trust |
Helix
Arts |
www.tvco.org.uk |
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Below
- all the names of the participants on the flag
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