A nature-inspired creative workshop exploring the plants, insects and wildlife living alongside the Leeds & Liverpool Canal in Kirkstall.

Waterside Life

Come along for a creative afternoon of walking, looking, drawing and making as we explore the living landscape along the towpath of the canal.

We'll head out along the historic canal corridor to see what we can find, noticing the plants, insects and wildlife that make use of this waterside habitat. Through playful sketching and observational drawing, we'll look closely at the shapes, textures and tiny details that are easy to overlook.

We'll explore how different forms of life coexist along the canal edge, from plants growing alongside the water and insects moving between vegetation, to the different habitats and micro-environments created along the waterway.

We will end our towpath walk by heading to the woodland shelter located in Hollybush Conservation Centre, here we will turn our observations into simple collage illustrations, shapes and abstract interpretations, experimenting with marks, textures and forms gathered from our drawings.

You don't need any previous drawing or printmaking experience, just bring your curiosity and a willingness to look at the familiar in a new way.

The drawings and prints created during the session will contribute to three collaborative zines as part of Common Ground, a wider funded project bringing together observations and creative responses to Kirkstall's living landscape.

Practical information & accessibility:

This is a relaxed, outdoor workshop involving a guided walk along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal towpath, followed by a creative making session at Hollybush.

The towpath may include uneven surfaces, narrow sections and areas where conditions vary according to the weather. Participants should wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear.

If you have any access requirements or would like to discuss whether the session is suitable for you, please get in touch before booking.

Please consider using public transport to arrive at the canal towpath.

Meeting point: Wyther Lane canal car park.

All materials and equipment are provided.

We will not collect or remove living plants or disturb wildlife.

About Common Ground:

Common Ground: Mapping Kirkstall's Living Landscape is a participatory printmaking and environmental storytelling project exploring the diverse habitats and ecologies of Kirkstall, Leeds.

Through a series of walk-and-make workshops, the project invites people to spend time outdoors, notice the plants and wildlife around them, and develop a closer connection with the natural environment on their doorstep. The three workshops explore different habitats across Kirkstall and will contribute to a series of collaborative zines and three textile banners to be exhibited locally.

This project is part of the Seasons of Culture Programme funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council through the Leeds Cultural Investment Programme.

About your tutor:

This workshop is facilitated by Aidan Liggins, textile artist and creative workshop leader, as part of Common Ground: Mapping Kirkstall's Living Landscape.

Aidan Liggins is a textile artist and workshop facilitator exploring how creativity, traditional knowledge and making can help us rebuild a relationship with the natural world.

Her work is rooted in tradition and slowness, using tactile processes such as block printing and botanical dyeing to explore the connections between people, materials and the changing seasons.

Through textile artworks, experiences and creative workshops, she invites people to look more closely at the natural world around them, drawing on folklore, seasonal knowledge and contemporary observation to create curiosity and connections - believing that care starts with attention.

Find out more about Aidan's work: Aidan Liggins Studio

Description supplied by the event organiser.