Bringing new life and meaning to nature through power of words

The amazing butterflies, bats, birds and bees of the South Downs National Park are the focus of a new thought-provoking digital exhibition of poetry, stories, film and spoken words.

Species Stories is a fascinating creative exploration of the National Park’s most recognisable wildlife, bringing to life people’s reflections, feelings and imaginations. The collection has been produced by talented writers and artists from Black and ethnically diverse backgrounds, as well as children and young people from across the National Park. The free exhibition has been produced in partnership with Brighton-based arts and heritage organisation Writing Our Legacy, the South Downs National Park Trust and the Foyle Foundation.

Anooshka Rawden, Cultural Heritage Lead for the South Downs National Park, said: “The incredible landscape of the South Downs National Park has inspired stories for thousands of years, with generations of people moved by its beauty, biodiversity and heritage.

“At the heart of the South Downs story are species – the amazing birds, bees, butterflies and bats that have survived for millennia.

“Species Stories explores the fascinating connection between these extraordinary animals and humans, reminding us all that we are ultimately part of nature and our stories are intertwined.

“This enduring bond is brought to life and unpacked by a range of new voices, bringing a fresh perspective on what South Downs nature means amid the unprecedented challenges it faces.”

Eight writers and artists produced a unique creative piece related to a South Downs species as part of the project. Illuminating work includes the diary of an endangered potter’s flower bee, tales of the “Night Natterer” European vesper bat, and a moving song and spoken word piece inspired by the migrating turtle doves of the National Park.

The commissioned writers in the exhibition are: Dulani Kulasinghe, Jess Murrain, Jose Hall, Marva Carty, Rawz, Rona Luo, Sense Turner and Tamara Lois Ansah.

Meanwhile, schoolchildren from across Sussex and Hampshire took part in a creative writing competition, using the species of the National Park as their inspiration. Supported by writing prompts and learning materials inspired by the commissioned writers, produced as a pack by commissioned writer Gemma Weekes, pupils produced imaginative pieces that reflected their own connections with nature.

The winning schools were Midhurst Rother College, Midhurst Primary School and Bury CE Primary School. Each school won a Pollination Education Station, which is a handcrafted outdoor habitat and living classroom designed by the local charity Sussex Green Living. Built using repurposed materials like reclaimed pallets, the stations provide nesting, food, and water for bees, butterflies, and other vital pollinators while teaching communities about biodiversity. The winning schools also received grant funding to help with nature-based school trips and wildlife identification guides.

Laura Braun, Senior Teacher at Bury CE Primary, said: “My class were intrigued to find out more about the animals in the Species Stories project and loved reading the range of texts provided. It was really engaging that the texts were not all standard ‘non-fiction’ pieces.

“They were really inspired by the stimuli and eager to create their own pieces to represent the species. They thoroughly enjoyed the process and it fitted so beautifully with our own nature-linked curriculum.”

Carrie Court, Founder of Sussex Green Living, said: “We were over the moon when the South Downs National Park chose our Pollination Education Station’s as the prizes for the winning writers. Working with the National Park’s education team during the installation events created a

wonderful outdoor education day for the pupils in these schools and the stations provided a lasting legacy for their fantastic writing.”

Amy Glass, CEO and Founder of Writing Our Legacy, said: “Species Stories creatively engaged the imaginations of children and young people in the rich biodiversity of the South Downs National Park, encouraging them to think and care about the beautiful species living amongst us. Writing Our Legacy was pleased to commission eight outstanding writers of colour to produce written and digital artworks, also engaging a fellow writer and educator to create an educational resource for local schools. It’s exciting to bring the South Downs to life in the classroom and now to an even wider audience through this new platform.”

To see the exhibition visit https://species-stories.southdowns.gov.uk

By Jeff Travis, Media and Public Relations Officer SDNP