Active Creative was a co-design project, working with community groups, in Banff and Macduff to merge physical and creative activity to promote mental health and wellbeing. The project was part of the North East Culture Collective Network, partnering with with Live Life Aberdeenshire and the Vinery, Aberdeen Foyer.

Between summer 2023 and spring 2024, I led creative nature walks and workshops with local residents and community groups. A steer group was formed to input varying voices from the local community, including Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Banff Fire Station, Four Pillars, Penumbra and NHS Grampian.

As well as group wanderings, I invited local residents to walk one to one with me, exploring accessible coastal routes and woodland paths. Walks were slow and gentle, guiding a five sense and playful approach to walking. Wandering, drawing and recording meaningful encounters with nature, building a walking-diary of place together.

I began leading synchronised, accessible walks for local residents to take part from home, indoors or outdoors from a distance. Photos, recordings and videos were shared via a walking WhatsApp group , weaving creative conversation around place. Each walk was guided by a seasonal nature theme for participants to respond to while walking outdoors or from home. Creative activities were invited during the wanders to connect with nature, capturing sounds, micro life forms, textures of the weather, colours, elements and wildlife.

Photos below, capture our distance wanderings together