Green Futures: art, drone shows and the spectacle of nature

Article written by

Drew Bennellick, Head of Land & Nature Policy

21/04/2022

Three people sitting on a picnic table in an urban greenspace, building wooden birdboxes with hammers

Drew Bennellick building birdboxes with the London Wildlife Trust team. Credit: Broni Lloyd-Edwards

Drew Bennellick, our Head of Land & Nature Policy, reflects on how we have supported the UK’s City of Culture to embrace a green future.

April is Coventry City of Culture Green Futures Month – a programme that uses contemporary art to explore the city’s natural heritage and landscape. Last year, we saw projects adapt in the face of the pandemic to connect Coventrians to nature. In 2022, an exciting programme of live events will be held throughout the summer, encouraging people to unearth their city’s green roots and take an active and long-term role in Coventry’s sustainability.

…we need to excite everyone about nature and the amazing world we inhabit. We need to create those memorable moments.

A small sculpture of a kingfisher on a wooden post next to a Coventry waterway — Sculpture by Juneau Projects, looking at the wildlife of the Spon End area of Coventry. Credit: @thecatbath

Nature under threat

A survey by Ipsos Mori found that 73% of people believe Earth is close to ‘tipping points’ because of human action, and a large majority (83%) want to do more to protect and restore nature in the future. While our cultural heritage constantly grows, our natural heritage is declining in abundance at an alarming rate.

To reverse this decline, we need to excite everyone about nature and the amazing world we inhabit. We need to create those memorable moments.

The restorative power of people and projects

Our work at the Heritage Fund has allowed me to experience nature first hand. I’ve also been lucky to meet some of the heroes who work tirelessly to save, restore, expand and explain the immense value of nature. From visiting the North Wessex Downs to learn about the difficulties of collecting and germinating threatened juniper seeds, to witnessing the resilience of seabirds with Professor Sir John Lawton at RSPB Bempton Cliffs.

Recently, I talked to a group of young people just starting their careers with the London Wildlife Trust, who are partnering with us to deliver Nextdoor Nature. This is an initiative that will improve access to nature across the UK and help to combat climate change, as part of our Platinum Jubilee legacy investment.

A group of people sitting next to a canal and building wooden bird boxes on a picnic bench — London Wildlife Trust team at the Nextdoor Nature launch: Nikki Williams, Bobbi Benjamin-Wand, Emily Fox and Chantelle Lindsay. Credit: Broni Lloyd-Edwards

Many staff and volunteers of nature organisations have a unique talent in bringing to life the wonders of the natural world in a way that is compelling, passionate and addictive.

#GreenFutures is leading the way

Coventry’s Green Futures programme is all about demonstrating how the natural and cultural heritage of a place are intrinsically linked and should be celebrated together equally.

By engaging Coventrians with their natural heritage – such as the city’s forgotten river that is buried under a concrete culvert – through spectacular art projects, the programme is helping to re-awaken a passion for nature. That’s why we contributed £3million of funding towards it.

People’s passion for nature can be driven through history, art, storytelling, technology and performance.

An exciting programme of events

Green Futures will bring a new dimension to celebrating the City of Culture and hopefully will act as a model for future cultural celebrations elsewhere. Its programme of events include:

living moss murals, created by creative studio Mosstika, that will spring up around the city and depict some of Coventry’s hidden wildlife
a new sound installation by artist Rosie Tee in the sensory garden of the War Memorial Park
Bee-Lines – a mass planting project that will create stunning floral pathways for pollinators
The big finale, Our Wilder Family, will be an epic story inspired by biodiversity and human connection with nature. Performed by 360 drones murmurating like flocks of birds, the show will be live streamed, allowing viewers across the world to become an active part of the story.

Coventry canal at night, with colourful lights illuminating the bridges. One sign reads 'Green Hope'. — Random String by Ludic Rooms, a spectacular, night-time light and projection experience alongside the Coventry Canal. Credit: Andrew Moore

People’s passion for nature can be driven through history, art, storytelling, technology and performance. We must create more moments like these to spark the interest which might just provide that first addictive connection with nature.

If you’re inspired, find out more about visiting these events in Coventry and discover more of what we fund for landscapes, parks and nature.