Welcome...
artists, poets, dancers, dreamers, thinkers,
nature lovers and random ramblers!
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Who are we? What's this all about?
We are an enthusiastic group of artist-walkers making monthly creative visits to beautiful places in South West England - coastline, woodland, moorland or deep countryside. Sometimes we do other stuff as well.
These are informal outings (not workshops), where we each pursue our own creative work, make new friends and exchange notes over a cup of tea at the end. They are probably better described as 'gentle wanders' rather than 'walks'! They are a welcome opportunity to slow down, relax and tune in to our surroundings.
It is all about enjoyment, freedom, fresh air, creativity
and being in nature together.
Can I come along too?
Anyone who has been on an Essential Nature Walking Art Workshop can join this group free of charge.
Anyone else who would like to come along... please contact us first.
By the way, you can also become a blog author on our Essential Nature Blog.
Some recent walks...
To see more ... click 'Blog Here' on the menu!
Along the coastline we have made two visits to the dramatic rocks and cliffs of Hartland Quay, near Clovelly. Nearer to home we have visited Fremington Quay, and heading east - we went to Rockham Bay near Mortehoe. A little bit inland we spent a deep wintry morning at Uppacott woods near Barnstaple, and more recently, an afternoon of spring sunshine and fresh green leaves at Broomhill Sculpture Park, Muddiford.
In May we held a small local exhibiton of work inspired by this beautiful part of the world.
Hartland Quay, North Devon: a place of beauty and elemental power.
Here, it is frequently wild and storm-swept on this exposed Atlantic coast - but on each of our visits we have enjoyed idyllic mild sunny weather. We specially arranged this of course!
In February, we visited the dramatic rocky cove at Rockham Bay on the North Devon coast. We arrived in heavy grey mist, two hours before low tide.
But it soon brightened and warmed up as the sun came through. ... a mild warm day, no wind, good company.
Here's a few pictures...
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We came steeply down to a small secluded bay - all around were grey slatey cliffs, dramatic with fractured vertical fissures. Formed around 30 million years ago apparently, at a time when the tectonic plates of the Earth were shifting, and forcing the rock under intense pressure to fold and concertina tight so that the normally horizontal layers were tipped up and became vertical.
Scattered rocks were strewn under the cliffs, and beyond the rocks, an expanse of pristine sand and the distant sea.
Amongst the rocks we found the remains of a shipwreck, believed to be from around 1911, sunk into the ground, fused into the rocks so it was almost indistinguishable from them.
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We basked in the warm sun, as each in our own reverie enjoyed the fresh air, the peace and tranquillity and the slow rhythm of the sea.
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Looking down on to the jagged rocks from the cliff top.
In January we enjoyed a frosty
crunchy sunny morning in the woods.
To see more, click
'Blog here' in the menu.
photo Pauline Dyer
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Tel: 01237 478875 for info, or email lg@essentialnature.org.uk