Arts & Sustainability
The Springhead Trust was set up in memory of Rolf Gardiner, a pioneer ecologist. He was an organic farmer and forester, a founder member of the Soil Association and, in the face of the growth of industrial farming, a passionate believer in rural sustainability. His wife Marabel was an advocate of the arts, holding festivals, concerts and theatrical spectacles in Springhead’s magical lakeside setting.
In recent years there has been much effort to build upon the couple’s vision for Springhead, creating a centre for creative and sustainable living. However, the work is on-going and many more initiatives are planned for the future.
Today, the Centre encourages techniques and principles associated with a more sustainable way of life. Springhead has replaced its septic tank for a reed bed sewage system; installed a composting toilet in the gardens; invested in energy saving light bulbs; organised a craftsman to harvest and use its willow and has put in place recycling systems, including a wormery that converts kitchen waste to garden compost.
It regularly holds exhibitions to promote local artists’ work and in the last 4 years has staged a number of major arts projects;
- Wild, Wet and Windy’ arts/science cross-curriculum workshops for Key Stage 3 pupils from 5 local schools (2004)
- ‘Art in the Garden’ 5 professional artists creating artwork and holding drop-in workshops in Springhead’s gardens during ‘Dorset Art Weeks’ (2004)
- ‘Walking in the Footsteps of Our Ancestors’ arts/history cross-curriculum workshops for Key Stage 2 pupils from 12 schools, culminating in a children’s arts festival (2005). Winners of North Dorset District Council’s ‘People and Places Award for the Most Innovative Arts Project 2005’.
- ‘Our Global Village’ art/citizenship cross-curriculum workshops for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils from 18 schools, culminating in a family arts festival offering an eclectic programme of drop-in visual and performing arts workshops for all the family to enjoy (2007).
- ‘Lost Friend’ family arts workshops run by artist Darrell Wakelam during February half-term holidays 2008.
As well as running young people’s art projects in the last few years, Springhead organised a children’s dig led by archaeologist and TV presenter, Julian Richards to learn more about Springhead’s ancient site that has finds dating back to Mesolithic times.
