Nature Calling
A project from the National Landscapes Association
Activate's Role: National Executive Creative Producers
- Locations: Chilterns, Dorset, Forest of Bowland, Lincolnshire Wolds, Mendip Hills and Surrey Hills.
- Date / time: May-October 2025
About Nature Calling
Nature Calling was the first national arts commissioning programme developed and delivered by the National Landscapes Association. Activate Performing Arts were National Executive Creative Producers for the project. There were 6 writing commissions and 6 artistic commissions that took place at National Landscapes locations across the country. The programme concluded with a season of public performances, exhibitions, workshops and events during summer 2025.
The aim of Nature Calling was to work with writers, musicians, visual artists and theatre-makers, to inspire new communities across England to connect with our National Landscapes, increasing people’s access to nature, improving their wellbeing and inspiring a sense of belonging in these special places.
Nature Calling brought 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 worked together to co-create artworks inspired by these iconic places and the results were shared with the public in a Season of Art from May – October 2025.
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 encouraged even more communities to feel welcome to enjoy these special places and on their own terms.
“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.”
The commissions
The following writers and artists were commissioned to explore and celebrate nature and our National Landscapes (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – AONBs), culminating in a Season of Art between May and October 2025. Visit the Nature Calling website to learn more about the project and the individual artists:
Dorset – Writer Louisa Adjoa Parker and Artist Becca Gill
Consequences by artist Becca Gill and her company Radical Ritual, created a new giant for the region, with members of local community groups.
This Patch of Land was written by Louisa Adjoa Parker.
Chilterns – Poet Lee Nelson and Artist Matthew Rosier
Luton Henge is a new permanent artwork by award-winning artist Matthew Rosier.
Sharpenhoe Begins is a short collection of poems by Lee Nelson inspired by visits to the Chilterns with community groups.
Forest of Bowland – Writer/Rapper OneDa and Artist Rob St John
Are You Lost? by Rob St. John, welcomes you into the heart of the Forest of Bowland through a series of sound, film and textile installations.
Connections created by writer/rapper OneDa.
Lincolnshire Wolds – Poet Ayesha Chouglay and Artists INSTAR Weareinstar, Trish Evans and Nick Humphreys
Shelf Life is a print-based sculptural installation and film developed by INSTAR artistsTrish Evans and Nick Humphreys.
Listen to them cows beeling by poet Ayesha Chouglay.
Mendip Hills – a collaborative commission with the writer Gwyneth Herbert, sound artist Jason Singh and nature documentary maker Chris Howard, produced by Sound UK
‘View In View Out’ (VIVO) is a unique, immersive 360 soundscape by co-authors Gwyneth Herbert, Jason Singh and Chris Howard, with producers’ Sound UK and Super Culture.
Surrey Hills – Writer/Rapper Still Shadey and Artists David Blandy & Daniel Locke
‘Dawn After Night, Spring After Winter’ is a new work encompassing two free game trail walks by artists David Blandy and Daniel Locke.
Nature’s Anthem: A Journey Through Surrey Hills by award-winning rapper-songwriter Still Shadey.
“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.”
Videos & Films
Nature Calling in Dorset
Dorset National Landscape and Active Performing Arts worked with Louisa Adjoa Parker on the Nature Calling writing commission and Becca Gill on the Artist commission.
Louisa Adjoa Parker is a southwest writer of English-Ghanaian heritage. Her work, which includes poetry, fiction, prose and ethnically diverse history, has been widely published. Louisa spent time in deep exploration of the ancient landscapes of Dorset and spoke with a wide cross-section of people who live and work in the area.
Louisa said: “I heard from children and young people, farmers and land managers, people with accessibility needs, artists, storytellers, and archaeological or wildlife experts, and this brought the land to life; each and every conversation helped shape the piece.”
The result is a poem called ‘This patch of Land’.
Becca Gill is an artist and producer working in outdoor arts, community engagement, and mass participatory events. She has held senior creative producing roles as Head of Programme at Trigger (The Hatchling, PoliNations, Ground, Teabreak) and with Total Theatre, Kaleider, Pages of the Sea/14-18 NOW, BBC New Creatives and South West Creative Technology Network.
She created a new company called Radical Ritual and for the Nature Calling commission, Consequences, worked with Grace Emily Manning RCA, multidisciplinary artist, focused on landscapes, ecology, and folklore; Sita Brahmachari, celebrated author exploring ‘Home’ and ‘Belonging’ centring global majority voices; and Nick Hayes, Writer of The Book of Trespass, illustrator and co-founder of Right to Roam.
The artwork is based on the game Consequences – where you take it in turns to draw a head, body, legs and feet whilst folding the paper and passing it on. The theme focuses on working together to create something whole. This new artwork is an investigation into local myths, giant stories and reimagining folk tales. Community groups in Yeovil came together to explore their sense of belonging and connection to the land. From workshops and walks, exploring myths and rituals, the outcome is a fun project using natural dyes and materials to create a giant piece of artwork for everyone to enjoy – reflecting and celebrating our landscapes.
Combining music, poetry, and ritual the giant was unveiled on the ancient hills of Somerset and Dorset in September 2025. The giant visited Summer House Hill in Yeovil and Corfe Castle as part of Inside Out Dorset.
“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.”
Partners
National Project Funders: Arts Council England, Defra (Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs)
National Executive Producers: Activate Performing Arts
Associate Producers: Poetry School, Walk the Plank, 101 Outdoor Arts
National Landscape Association regional funders: Chilterns, Dorset, Forest of Bowland, Lincolnshire Wolds, Mendip Hills and Surrey Hills
Creative Producers: Chilterns/Revolution Arts, Dorset/Activate Performing Arts, Forest of Bowland/Blaze & Lancaster Arts, Lincolnshire Wolds/Magna Vitae & SO Festival, Mendip Hills/Super Culture and Surrey Hills/Surrey Hills Arts