A Bit of Earth - A project celebrating and growing green spaces, part of Festival of Debate 2021
Our little bits of earth – those patches of stubborn buddleia and grass emerging from old carparks, our local parks or the wide hills of the Peak District – have given us a lot this past year.
They have been places to escape to, to breathe in and out. They have given us birdsong, hopeful snowdrops and handfuls of blackberries, and absorbed our carbon dioxide.
But how often do we pause to acknowledge these everyday gifts? In this project we want to create an opportunity for you to celebrate the green spaces which got us through this past year, and a chance to offer back some gifts of our own.
Might I,” quavered Mary, “might I have a bit of earth? … To plant seeds in—to make things grow—to see them come alive.
From The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
In exchange for stories and images of your daily walks, your unexpected encounters with wildlife, and your adventures into unexplored local green spaces, we will send you a mysterious package containing seeds and a map to your very own ‘bit of earth’ to create your own secret garden with your neighbours.
To take part visit the Bare Project website to find out more and to send us your stories and pictures. Deadline Monday 24th May!
Only the first 150 households will receive packages, so don’t delay!
If you are part of a group of more than 6 (such as a community group or school group) please get in touch with us on bitofearth@thebareproject.co.uk. This project is open to residents of Sheffield, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Barnsley.
This project is free to participants and suitable for all ages. We’re keen to hear from a wide range of people from across these four places.
This project is in partnership with Can Do South Yorkshire, South Yorkshire Climate Alliance (SCA), Festival of Debate and Opus Independents. We will also be working with community gardens across South Yorkshire – watch this space!