Branching Out - East Carlton Park

History of the East Carlton Hall and Park

Carolyn leading our mindfulness meditation

After closing our eyes, focussing on breathing 

we became more relaxed in our den-like woodland space

Carole brought out materials for intervention

inviting us to choose three different coloured paper circles which we cut and decorated then shaped and pieced together to create flower forms. 

We added them to garden sticks and moved logs and twigs to create a secret garden to planted our paper flowers. 

Mindfulness Secret Garden

We discussed how we sometimes felt

and turned our backs on our troubles

We had permission to leave the flowers for others to find and we headed off to explore other parts of the park

We discovered one of the many intriguing carved wooden sculptures on the Story Trail that punctuates the park walking trails.

Just beyond this point we discovered an Owl

We asked him to direct us to a good place for our picnic, he made no reply but we did find a sheltering tree just before the rain came. We didn't mind getting a little damp as the walk had give us a hearty appetite! Below are links to some of he things we discovered.

Mysterious twisty tree

Oak Galls

A path to the trees

Bracket Fungi or Polypore

Threats to Horse Chestnut Trees

Infected Horse Chestnut Leaves

To print off park leaflets click on the title:

• The Lavender Lady
• The Kings Folly Cartoon Leaflet
• The Hall - The Hall unfortunately is not open to the public but can be viewed from the park.  The present Hall, built in 1863 on the site of the previous Hall is thought to be the third Hall on this site.  Like all old buildings, it does have a ghost who has on occasions been known to visit the Old Coach House (refer to The Lavender Lady leaflet).

Further information about the Park, cafe, workshops and events plus volunteering opportunities follow the link

More Funding Success!

Organisation name: Back To Books 
Project title: With My Best Foot Forward

This project is a progression of our work with disadvantaged groups / community members who are hard to reach and whose needs are often overlooked. It also follows on from our most recent project "Celebrating Our Senses - Mindfulness, Walking, Wellbeing". 

"We are pleased to let you know that following the Tesco Bags of Help vote in your local Tesco stores, your project came second and has been chosen by Tesco Customers to receive an award of £2,000.00.

Voting was held at Tesco stores between Monday 1st May to Friday 30th June and proved to be very successful with millions of votes being cast by Tesco Customers across England, Scotland and Wales."

As we didn't receive the full amount originally applied for we will use the funds to support walks, events and activities during two new projects "Branching Out - Parks and Gardens - Mindfulness, Walking, Wellbeing Project" and "Parks and Gardens, Woods and Water, Crafts and Industry"

Thank you to everyone who voted for us!

Branching Out - Kettering Food Festival

As it wasn't possible to make an intervention for the Boughton House walk we decided to create silk paintings inspired by the gardens to hang at The Kettering Food Festival hosted by Groundworks at The Green Patch.

Carole brought three long silks to SWAG in Corby

as many of the group have also been involved 

as members of Back To Books Projects.

They were so inspired that Carole outlined

more designs on hoops for the group to paint.

Everyone found the process relaxing

and produced gorgeous results

Our lovely silks adorning The Real Junk Food Cafe Marquee

Kate Williams greeting Mark Lane, Health, Wellbeing and Community Ambassador Groundwork UK who is also a presenter on on BBC Gardeners World and who is a firm advocate of the therapeutic benefits of gardening and sees it as a doorway to mindfulness and wellbeing.

For more information about the flavour of the Kettering Food Festival read this engaging Post by Mark Lane, Health, Wellbeing and Community Ambassador Groundwork UK 

Mayor of Kettering, Scott Edwards

The painters were very excited to see their work in situ and many came to sample the delights at the Food Festival. They also had plenty of walking that day as there was much to see on site and were able to connect with friends both old and new.

To find out more about food waste projects and cafes in Northamptonshire please visit Fruitful Abundance

More about SWAG  Meeting at Stephenson Way Community Centre every Monday from 11.30am until 1.30pm, the S.W.A.G group get creative! Occasionally, the group have special projects but are open to all types of art during their sessions – you can bring your own project or experiment with club materials. To join S.W.A.G you can just turn up, pay £2 for refreshments and have fun whilst learning new skills. See the group here helping to create panels for the back To Books Brampton Valley Way mosaics 

To find out more about The Green Patch please follow the link

Five garden tweaks that will help health and wellbeing

How walking can help wellbeing

To see more photos follow the link

After the Food Festival the round silk paintings 

became part of the decorations at the wedding 

celebration for Back To Books Chair Meriel White 

and were later returned to the makers to take home or to keep at Stevie Way.