Fifteen years ago, a small group of students, all excluded from mainstream schools, came to visit. Fermynwoods' director James Steventon recalls it as: 'a one off workshop which took place largely in the woods. And it rained almost the whole time.' Against the odds, the group from The CE Academy wanted to come again and it turned into a six week course where they spent half a day a week working with an artist.
The programme has expanded over the years to accommodate more students. The projects combine art, education, environment and digital media. The participants create sculptures, films, videos and explore diverse art forms, gaining confidence and new skills. Researchers at the University of Northampton interviewed young people who previously participated in the programme. They now provide support as peer mentors. Their findings showed that: 'For many young people from deprived backgrounds, the enjoyment of outdoor spaces and culture are not a given: the absence of those can affect a person’s ability to express themselves, have an outlet and connect with those around them.'
The physical environment
Fermynwoods Contemporary Art is rural. It used to be based in an old cottage in Fermyn Woods but now operates out of East Carlton and Stanwick Lakes Country Parks, . It has made an impact on the young people who have spent time there; '‘Honestly,... it's a very decent place. If you're someone... who likes peace, nature…’; ‘When we first came, like on my first day, I was like new place, so a bit of exploring .. just running around and all that just doing random things, … it’s warm and it’s … properly calming ‘… just nature and you can hear the birds now.’ ‘It brings joy, I guess, because I am happy when I am out in the wood and like all the green and that. It is nice.’
The social environment
The settings help to create a nurturing secure social environment and a safe communal space. One learner commented: 'Especially in like the winter and stuff where you just come in and you'll be freezing, into the fire on and you'd warm up and then you'd slowly get into the day.’ The group can light a fire, sit together at a table working on activities, preparing and sharing meals: 'So it’s just really comfortable. You’ve got the house there so you’ve got drinks so you can just sit out here and do your work as well.‘
The atmosphere has had a positive impact on their emotions: '…when I was in mainstream, they were just like if you do it wrong, then you have done everything wrong and there is no coming back from it and all that. … it’s just like new people giving you a chance, loads of chances, straight away so it’s just, different.’