Dorset National Landscape in partnership with Activate Performing Arts is going to feature as a major hub in a £2M ground-breaking national art project, Nature Calling, which is funded by Arts Council England, the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) and National Landscapes in England.
Today, we announce the artists that have been commissioned as part of the Nature Calling project. Each of the six locations chosen to feature in Nature Calling have selected writers and artists and we are delighted that Louisa Adjoa Parker, a writer of English-Ghanaian heritage, and Becca Gill, an artist and producer, both from the South West, will be exploring and celebrating the iconic Dorset landscape and working with communities in South Somerset and Dorset.
Nature Calling is a first for National Landscapes because of its size, scope and the level of investment. It aims to inspire communities across England to connect with National Landscapes, increasing their access to nature, improving their wellbeing and inspiring a sense of belonging in these special places.
Louisa Adjoa Parker, commissioned writer for the Dorset National Landscape, said:
I’m delighted to have been commissioned as the Dorset writer for Nature Calling. I’m looking forward to hearing local people’s stories about life in Dorset, and their connections with the local landscape. I’m especially keen to hear from those who haven’t traditionally been represented in nature and rural writing.
Becca Gill, commissioned writer for the Dorset National Landscape, said:
“The project Consequences isn’t just meaningful—it’s fun, aiming to captivate a broad audience and draw attention to our natural and sacred sites. We may have forgotten the stories our landscapes tell, but together, we can rediscover and inspire new tales of care, nurture, and community.”
John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association said:
“The great thing about Nature Calling is that it’s a chance for new voices to interpret the National Landscapes of England in new ways. Arts Council England and Defra
funding means we can deliver our first all-England arts programme with six National Landscape teams working with artists to celebrate these iconic places with a season of events in 2025.”
Kate Wood, Executive and Artistic Director for Activate Performing Arts and Bill Gee, Co-Artistic Director of Inside Out Dorset, said:
“We have worked with our partners across the country to select a really diverse range of extraordinary writers, musicians and artists. We are thrilled with their ideas for Nature Calling and look forward to working with them and the communities in all the locations.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:
“Throughout time, our greatest artists have been inspired by England’s wonderful landscape. Now, we’re supporting a new generation of artists to bring to life their own awe-inspiring work in response to our natural environment. I’m excited to see what they will create.”
Nature Calling will bring together the 34 National Landscapes in England, local arts organisations and community groups from within a 30-minute journey time of their nearby National Landscape. They will work together to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places and the results will then be shared with the public in a Season of Art from May – October 2025. It is expected that 70,000 people will take part nationally.
National Landscapes are the UK’s nearby countryside. 66% of people in England (44 million) live within 30 minutes of a National Landscape, over 1 million people live within them and at least 170 million people visit every year. Nature Calling aims to encourage even more communities to feel welcome to enjoy these special places on their own terms.
Co-delivered with national arts partners Activate Performing Arts as executive creative producers, and are also the local producers. Working with writers, musicians, visual artists and theatre-makers, Nature Calling aims to inspire new communities across England to connect with National Landscapes, increasing people’s access to nature, improving their wellbeing and inspiring a sense of belonging in these special places. Nature Calling focuses on ensuring our landscapes are a place for everyone. It will engage new audiences across England and inspire the whole National Landscapes family, whilst bringing the special qualities of our National Landscapes to the fore.
Nature Calling marks the first time Defra has invested in the arts on a national scale and is the first time National Landscapes teams have come together in such numbers to deliver an arts programme. The national project is coordinated by the National Landscapes Association and executive creative producers, Dorset-based Activate Performing Arts. Poetry School are supporting the work nationally and 6 geographically spread National Landscapes will operate as key hubs of activity.
Image credit: Louisa Adjoa Parker and Becca Gill