Linear Park Creative Walk in Nature

Join artists Sara Rickard and Roger Drury for this Creative Walk in Nature

Linear Park is a wildlife conservation area with ponds, woodland, scrubland and reedbed. It follows part of an old railway line, starting at the old Ruspidge Halt railway station which is now the car park and borders the town of Cinderford to the east.

This is a short, flat wheelchair accessible route of less than a mile which takes in a small part of a much longer walk around Linear Park. A new path surface has recently been laid (January 2025). Linear Park is suitable for wheelchairs.

Enjoy short, gentle strolls through the Forest this autumn, pausing to reflect, engage your senses, and enjoy fresh air. Our artist-led walks include poetry, storytelling, sketching, and creative activities using illustrated maps to spot seasonal wildlife — all in a fun, relaxed, and supportive group.

These walks follow short, gentle routes, perfect for those wishing to be inspired by the beauty of the Forest in autumn. Along the way, we’ll pause to reflect, engage our senses, and breathe in the fresh air while exploring creative opportunities.

Participants will be introduced to poetry, storytelling, and a wide range of art materials to ‘have a go’ with in a supportive group. Our artist leaders will demonstrate approaches to sketching, mark-making, and recording nature. Using our illustrated maps, we’ll see if we can spot any of the insects, birds, flora, or fauna shown.

The atmosphere will be fun, relaxed, social, exciting, and creative.

Start Point: Park & Meet at Ruspidge Hall, St White's Rd, Rispidge, Cinderford, GL14 3ER

Contact Number on the day: 07727639447

Cost: Suggested donation of £5+ towards materials. Bookings close at 4.30pm the day before the event.

Walk Level: Easy, flat with benches to pause. This is a short, flat wheelchair accessible route of less than a mile which takes in a small part of a much longer walk around Linear Park. A new path surface has recently been laid (January 2025). Linear Park is suitable for wheelchairs.

What to wear: Participants should dress appropriately for the weather on the day and wear sturdy boots or walking boots/shoes, a waterproof/warm jacket and layers to keep warm.

What to bring: Snacks, drinks. Notebooks and art materials will be provided but if participants wish to bring any of their own that's fine. Try to be as ‘hands free’ as possible.

Dogs: Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome, but please note we are often close to wildlife and it's ideal if you can be as hands free as possible.

Your Canopy Leader: Sara Rickard has lived in the FoD for over 20 years, is a textile artist and educator and a member of the Canopy steering committee. A member of farOpen and the Embroiderers’ Guild Sara’s own work focusses on stitch, both by hand and machine and is greatly inspired by the beauty of the forest. www.sarajoyrickard.com

Your Canopy leader: Roger Drury is a community arts worker and a member of the Canopy steering committee. Based and working in The Forest of Dean and environs since 1986. He develops creative activity, engaging with communities, working with all ages and abilities. Projects have included setting up Coleford Festival of Words, Forest of Dean Community Radio, Incomplete Histories, Oh Crumbs spoken word live events, Last Thursday live performances and Glos Writers Network. He is a writer/performer member of Custard Ceili Band & the Pukes.

About the Creative Walks programme: Canopy Creative Walks nurture connection, creative thinking and mental wellbeing through a combination of time outdoors, gentle exercise and social interaction. They are open to everyone. The routes are relatively short, the emphasis being on the journey taken rather than the destination. They follow a process of looking, listening, responding individually and collectively and sharing time together. Each walk is carefully researched, uniquely designed and guided by the leader/artist. Participants are encouraged to stop to observe, record, photograph, listen or consider a particular feature. Numerous approaches are offered to enable individuals to make a personal response visually or in words. The aim is to demonstrate various creative starting points which can be developed by participants later. At the end of the walk we share work, ideas and a coffee/sandwich at a nearby café for anyone interested in joining.

Find out more about Canopy: https://canopynetwork.co.uk/

Important information: By attending this event, attendees acknowledge and agree that they are solely responsible for their own health, safety and wellbeing during the event. The hosting organisation assumes no liability or responsibility for any injuries, illnesses or damages that may occur before, during or after the event.