Welcome to the Natural Sparks Collection: –
A huge range of natural artefacts brought together to promote a better understanding of biodiversity and its powerful effect on our world order.
Although it is not virtual, or even online, it only exists ‘for real’. Pupils from a dozen schools in Bristol have delved into it. Hundreds of families have enjoyed it at festivals. They are encouraged to study it freestyle at first and then drill down into the detail and discover how the species plays its part keeping nature in balance for the benefit of all of ‘us’. It is hopefully going to improve in quality and quantity soon with the benefit of a crowd funder appeal.
To celebrate biodiversity, I spent the last forty years collecting artefacts from the natural world and make them fit for purpose in school or festival environment. My various careers required that I travel though forty countries and territories working as an underwater wildlife cameraman, expedition leader and campaign photographer.
Connecting to nature from an early age helps instil a deep, sometimes intuitive sense of our place within the natural world, which leads to a love and respect for our environment. To play and learn with nature close-up is a full, sensory experience. The unique character of each piece can be explored with its textures, colours, designs and structures.
Natural materials can help bring elements of the outdoors into our structured, indoor spaces. This can be very helpful when aiming to create appropriate, calming sensory environments in schools where children can gain a greater understanding of the natural world and their environment, no matter what the weather!
The collection is available for schools and festivals… please email me on tom@walmsley.net
