Art group looking to teach children about nature
An arts and crafts group aims to encourage children to learn about the great outdoors.
Nature Makers aims to help families connect with nature and raise their children with an appreciation of the environment through nature-inspired art & craft using eco-friendly and vegan products.
Becki Emery is the leader of the franchise which covers Lichfield and Walsall, running outdoor classes for children at Curborough Community Centre Garden and Walsall Arboretum
The 36-year-old graphic designer from Walsall said she had always been environmentally friendly and eco-conscious and when the opportunity came to run these sessions, she jumped at the chance.
She said: "The environment is something I've always been very passionate about, so getting the chance to combine art and the environment together was something I was really pleased to be able to do.
"The whole idea of being outdoors and helping children appreciate the world around them is something close to my heart as I have a daughter and try to bring her up to love being outside."
The classes are aimed at children aged six months to six-years-old and their parents or guardians and look at a different nature theme, finishing with a related story or poem.
Activities, which are run in Covid-secure areas, include creating autumn fairies from biodegradable glitter, leaves and feathers, making bird feeders and painting with blackberries.
Becki said she would continue to run activities at both venues until October half-term, then look at options for indoor classes with social distancing.
She said she hoped she could inspire people young and old to learn more about the outdoors and the environment around them and be more responsible about the environment.
She said: "I'm trying to parents and children to just love nature and art and get them to be more responsible about the products they use at home.
"You can buy those plastic containers full of pipe cleaners and other things, but they just go in the bin afterwards, so I'd like to see parents buy materials that are eco-friendly."
To find out more about Nature Makers and to make a booking for a class, go to nature-makers.co.uk/lichfield-and-walsall
More information and photos from different classes can be seen at facebook.com/NatureMakersLichfieldWalsall/
