‘A Season in Seacroft’ will bring creative arts activities that are inspired by nature to Seacroft Forest Garden, in the heart of Seacroft. The garden itself, the plants and wildlife, will be the inspiration for all activities and will include visual arts, storytelling, poetry writing, songs and a podcast.

Arts activities will be facilitated by Skippko artists Anne and Matthew. Mornings will focus on creative activities that promote connection with nature, mental wellbeing, mindfulness and recovery. Afternoons will focus on the recovery of, and giving back to the garden – such as making bug hotels, decorated signage/benches, plant labels, weeding/planting etc. Two family friendly days will take place during school holidays at the beginning and end of the project. A focussed group of adults will engage in a deeper connection with the garden during September and October 2026.

In addition, we will work with freelance artist Helen Brook to embed sustainability in meaningful and practical ways by offering two training sessions for participants to discover small steps they can make to reduce their carbon footprint. We will engage a freelancer to document the story of the project for a podcast to be broadcast through Chapel FM.

The project will take place at Seacroft Forest Garden, 263 South Parkway, Seacroft, Leeds LS14 6HA.

https://www.seacroftforestgarden.co.uk/

The garden is located on a previously overgrown, derelict plot of land owned by Leeds City Council. Work started on the site in August 2021 and currently has a dedicated group of volunteers. The purpose of the garden is to restore and protect the environment, where local residents can enjoy fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs and have a peaceful place of calm.

‘A Season in Seacroft’ will have reciprocity at its heart. Participants will benefit by being outdoors and responding creatively to the garden and in return we will facilitate activities that benefit the recovery of the garden.