“Returning to the Well”
My latest BIG storytelling project. Thanks to the support of the Andy Hunter creative bursary. I’m celebrating the value of water, initially by focusing on two of Edinburgh’s ancient healing wells. The Balmwell or St Catherine’s well at Mortonhall and St Triduana’s well at Restalrig. They both have fascinating stories associated with them and it has been a pleasure to explore these and share water stories and activities with P4 pupils at St Catherine’s primary school in Gracemount.
“Changing Views”, Stories of the Braid Hills 2017-2018
At the highest point on the Braid Hills you will see a viewfinder created by the map maker John Bartholomew in his retirement. It offers a 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape, identifies key landmarks and gives an interesting geological explanation.
The story below, the beginning of which features on a waymarker post nearby, is a myth created by local school children with support from storyteller Jane Mather. It offers a different story of how the seven Hills of Edinburgh came to be…
the three brothers and Arthur the terrible six headed giant
“Stories in stone”. Summer 2017, Rosslyn Chapel.
Storytelling and nature workshops for the education department at Rosslyn Chapel. in addition to meeting a varied and interesting international audience whilst exploring themes of nature carved into the chapel’s stonework, I learned fascinating historical stories…
After the reformation, when the chapel fell into a state of damp and disrepair and became known as the “Green Chapel” due to its covering of algae and moss…
Also, in the roof a medieval beehive was discovered during the chapel’s restoration, honey had never been collected from this hive and it had only one tiny hole for the bee’s to come in and go out as they pleased. They were thought to be tiny wing’d messengers from God and lived in peace.
“Woodland Stories”, an 18 week project running over two seasons, funded by the Big Lottery and run in partnership with Buckstone Primary School Parent Council.
Autumn Woodland Stories
Spring Woodland Stories Midsummer Celebration:
Toasting marshmallows is a serious business in the wild
An audience of Mums and Dads, brothers and sisters listen to the children’s stories
And Gather in a woodland clearing for refreshments
Beautiful twig weavings decorate the space
Magical Nature Stories 