Budding Botanists took place from April to July 2024 and was funded by The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) scheme.

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The project used arts and creativity to engage and inspire children in schools and their families and broaden their awareness of the rich and rare flora of Upper Teesdale (the ‘Teesdale Assemblage’) and its plight.  

The project aimed to:

·         Raise awareness of the rare flora of upper Teesdale 

·         Engage and inspire children using arts and creative activity 

·         Develop an interest and understanding of the environmental issues in our local protected landscape 

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The project involved creative workshops and site visits to Cow Green Reservoir for four Teesdale primary schools: Bowes-Hutchinson's C of E Primary School, Cotherstone Primary School, Montalbo Nursery and Primary School and St Mary’s RC Primary School.

The project engaged three County Durham based artists to lead the creative workshops: David De La Haye, Louise Taylor and Nat Wilkins.

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Site visits to Cow Green Reservoir were arranged for students and teachers from the four schools to discover more about the Teesdale Assemblage. The groups investigated the famous Spring Gentian and the history and heritage of these rare flowers. Site visits were accompanied by volunteers from the Teesdale Special Flora Trust and Volunteer Botany Group, including Dr Margaret Bradshaw, who worked with the students to understand the significance of these unique Teesdale flowers.  

The three artists facilitated creative activities on site in May and afterwards in schools in June, using photography and sound recording techniques. Students explored ideas about the local landscape and generated their own artwork in response. Artwork included photography, sound compositions, cyanotype prints and zines (small magazines).

The project culminated in a public exhibition of the students’ work entitled ‘Fabulous Flora!’ at The Witham Art Centre Gallery in Barnard Castle.  The exhibition also included an interactive opportunity for visitors to make their own ‘zine’ inspired by the flora of upper Teesdale.