Flagging up a festival - Bass Reflections
Bassenthwaite Reflections
A four-day September festival highlighting a community landscape programme which has touched thousands is being launched with a contest.Bassenthwaite Reflections has asked the schools it has worked with over the past three years to design a poster to publicise what promises to be a celebration with a difference.
Events planned focus on the successes of Reflections and include a weekend of family activities. The festival culminates with a challenge to get teams of people to climb all the area’s 2000ft peaks on the Sunday.
Martin Varley, of Heritage Lottery Fund supported Reflections, said since 2007, 30 far-reaching projects to protect Bassenthwaite Lake and its precious surroundings had inspired significant numbers of people.
He added: “The programme finishes in December, but we wanted to stage a summer gathering where people could see just what has been achieved. It’s a thank you too, to the countless numbers who have helped us in so many ways.
“Our work in education has been incredibly important and the competition involves the schools which have given such enthusiastic backing.”
Pupils are currently designing posters to promote the festival, which will run from 15 to 19 September. Creations are expected to reflect their widespread Reflections’ projects, including wildlife, trees and tackling invasive species.
The winning school will choose 20 of its young artists to row across Derwentwater on replica Viking ship, the Gift of the Gael, and visit a Norse encampment.
Over four days, festival goers can look forward to guided walks, archaeology treats and viewing a wood fuel heating system. Unusually, there will be a visit to Keswick sewage treatment works and a trip to a local farm.
Martin explained: “We want to provide something for all ages and abilities and children will be particularly well catered for. There will be visits to Dubwath wetland reserve and Whinlatter’s Masmill woodland, as well as an invitation to be a scientist or a willow worker.
“We staged a month-long interactive exhibition in Keswick last summer, which was seen by around 4,000 people. We hope the festival will also bring in the crowds.”
Anyone wanting more information can ring Reflections on 017687 73204, email reflections@environment-agency.gov.uk website www.bassenthwaite-reflections.co.uk (open in new windows).
Bassenthwaite Reflections is a Heritage Lottery funded programme. Reflections partners are made up of Environment Agency, Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust, Forestry Commission, Grampus Heritage and Training and Cumbria County Council.
For further information on any of the 22 projects in the Bassenthwaite Reflections Programme, contact Karin Crofts on karin.crofts@environment-agency.gov.uk or 017687 74785.
