A project funded by DEFRA through the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme using arts and creativity to engage Teesdale primary school children with the landscape in Upper Teesdale and the rare and special flora to be found there. Cuthbert's moor Back to Landscape and Environment Cuthbert’s Moor is an area of peatland, heath and grassland habitats that support birds including lapwing, snipe, redshank, curlew and golden plover, short-eared owl and black grouse, all species which are declining nationally due to changes in land use. This site in Teesdale, County Durham lies within the North Pennines National Landscape boundary and is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI). Working in partnership with Durham Wildlife Trust, we engaged an artist to work with a community group and secondary school students to explore environmental challenges and the critical role of peatlands in the UK's ecosystem. 6 Felting sessions with UTASS, Middleton-in-Teesdale and with students from Teesdale School took place with artist Claire Priestley Over 40 Participants explored ideas about the importance of the peat and environmental factors 2 collaborative artworks were created in response by participants using wet felting techniques and needle felt. Artwork was exhibited at Teesdale School in 2024 and at Bowlees Visitor Centre in 2025. Thank you to our generous Funders: We Need Your Support Today! Donate

From September 2024 to March 2025 we delivered The I:D Project - using creativity to inspire young people in Teesdale to explore their curiosity, identity, and their sense of place and belonging in the world, to support positive wellbeing outcomes as part of Durham County Council’s Big Arts Project. the i:d project Back to Health and Wellbeing Next Project The I:D Project brought artists and young people together to explore identity, sense of place, and encourage curiosity with the aim of improving wellbeing. We worked with students from Teesdale School & Sixth Form and with young people from TCR Hub and UTASS. Activity included visual art and spoken word workshops with artist Lizzie Lovejoy , visits to Grassholme Observatory and a pop-up camera obscura residency with photographer Elaine Vizor . 390 young people from Teesdale took part 71% agreed "this activity has given me space to explore my own ideas" 68% agreed "using creative writing/photography/drawing has helped me to express my ideas" A booklet was created containing artwork and poems by young people providing a tool for future work Watch the I:D Project video to hear directly from the young people involved in the project Thank you to our generous Funders: We Need Your Support Today! Donate

All previous projects completed by Northern Heartlands from 2017 to 2023. Past Projects Back to projects Great Place Scheme Hidden Heritage Bishop Auckland Heritage Plants on the Edge Thriving Communities Turning the Hourglass We Need Your Support Today! Donate