Reconnecting with nature
Tern the Tide
An artist-led funded creative climate action project which took place across 2023-2024
An artist-led creative climate action project which took place across 2023-2024 funded by Creative Ireland and Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, in celebration of the NPWS Little Tern conservation in Kilcoole which is run by BirdWatch Ireland.
Ireland
Local
Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow with National Element
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Yes
2024-10-31
No
No
No
As an individual
Artist Laura McMahon and Mild, are delivering ‘Tern the Tide’ a creative project in celebration of the NPWS Little Tern conservation project ran by BirdWatch Ireland in Kilcoole. ‘Tern the Tide’ is a recipient of the Creative Ireland Programme, which is funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and also by Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail as part of the CIÉ Sustainability fund.
This participative creative climate project involves a series of free artist-led creative workshops that will take place locally in Kilcoole, Wicklow. It will include expert talks from BirdWatch Ireland, an on-site visit to the NPSW Little Tern conservation project site. The workshop series will feed into a culminating artwork, using upcycled materials donated from the team at Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, which will be placed on Irish Rail owned premises in sight of the Dublin - Rosslare train route, encouraging engagement with local passersby and train passengers.
This participative creative climate project involves a series of free artist-led creative workshops that will take place locally in Kilcoole, Wicklow. It will include expert talks from BirdWatch Ireland, an on-site visit to the NPSW Little Tern conservation project site. The workshop series will feed into a culminating artwork, using upcycled materials donated from the team at Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, which will be placed on Irish Rail owned premises in sight of the Dublin - Rosslare train route, encouraging engagement with local passersby and train passengers.
Participatory
Creative
Expert-led
Nature
Up-cycling
Sustainability was embedded from beginning to end in Tern the Tide from project resources to end sculpture, we ensured the natural environment and our impact upon it, as well as the opportunity for us to help protect and repair it were core values across it's delivery. Especially because the message of the work of what Bird Watch Ireland have been doing at the Little Tern conservation in Kilcoole, highlights how humans can make a difference when we take science-led interventions to protect our shared biodiversity.
Tern the Tide used creative workshops to help local participants consider their natural environment in a new way - from the handmade notebooks we had for each of them that were made from recyled resources, for each participant to capture their ideas across the process - to artist led walks along the beach, including prompts to consider the landscape from the birds perspective, to the bird conservation to learn from the experts of their work and draw the birds in obervation on plein air, and nature observational drawing - we designed the intervention to partner the expert led talks with moments of consideration in nature and of nature. Allowing time for discussion of what came up afterwards supporting opportunities for shared learning.
Connecting the local community to the climate and biodiversity crisis in a tangible way through the creative process.
· Local participants better understand the real impact of climate change at both a local and global level.
. Local participants empowered to make sustainable choices in line with Ireland 2030 Climate Action Plan particularly around increasing use of public and active transport.
. Increased local knowledge of the importance of the Little Tern Conservation project and its link to wider conservation actions, noting how they can help reduce further biodiversity loss.
· Highlighting the real, immediate impact of climate change and biodiversity loss through a visually impactful installation.
. Celebrating the success of the Little Tern conservation effort
· Empowering people to take positive climate action, specifically around the impact of reducing emissions through public transport.
Widening our reach to those who use the local beach walkway, train users and wider Irish population who access the website about the project and the raise awareness of the issues of biodiversity loss and climate change.
· Increase knowledge and understanding of the Little Tern population and the issues they face due to habitat loss and biodiversity crisis- connecting this local issue to global climate change.
Wider promotion and engagement of artwork and its messages around the need for climate action through local and national news.
· Local promotion of the project within the Kilcoole and Greystones area which will lead to better understanding of the conservation work done by BWI around Little Terns and change behaviours needed to help support their work.
· Engagement with local politicians to help influence local climate action and raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis in the area.
· Local participants better understand the real impact of climate change at both a local and global level.
. Local participants empowered to make sustainable choices in line with Ireland 2030 Climate Action Plan particularly around increasing use of public and active transport.
. Increased local knowledge of the importance of the Little Tern Conservation project and its link to wider conservation actions, noting how they can help reduce further biodiversity loss.
· Highlighting the real, immediate impact of climate change and biodiversity loss through a visually impactful installation.
. Celebrating the success of the Little Tern conservation effort
· Empowering people to take positive climate action, specifically around the impact of reducing emissions through public transport.
Widening our reach to those who use the local beach walkway, train users and wider Irish population who access the website about the project and the raise awareness of the issues of biodiversity loss and climate change.
· Increase knowledge and understanding of the Little Tern population and the issues they face due to habitat loss and biodiversity crisis- connecting this local issue to global climate change.
Wider promotion and engagement of artwork and its messages around the need for climate action through local and national news.
· Local promotion of the project within the Kilcoole and Greystones area which will lead to better understanding of the conservation work done by BWI around Little Terns and change behaviours needed to help support their work.
· Engagement with local politicians to help influence local climate action and raise awareness of the biodiversity crisis in the area.
A new sculpture in place at Kilcoole train station including flag when birds are back
Two information boards on site about the bird conservation, with bird facts, and project notes and link to website
on train ads leading to project website
on station ads leading to project website
Two information boards on site about the bird conservation, with bird facts, and project notes and link to website
on train ads leading to project website
on station ads leading to project website
Local workshops
Local launch with local wider residents and local reps in attendance
Website and Sculpture Launched with National Press release
Local launch with local wider residents and local reps in attendance
Website and Sculpture Launched with National Press release
Participatory process led to train partner materials used in final design of upcycled sculpture
Final sculpture design influenced by local workshops
Project co created with charity parter Bird Watch Ireland and Irish Rail with Artists leading
Final sculpture design influenced by local workshops
Project co created with charity parter Bird Watch Ireland and Irish Rail with Artists leading
Artist led - and cocreation allowed for new ideas through sessions with Rail Engineer partners and local community
Artists Laura McMahon & Mild’s (Marie Gordon) creative project ‘Tern the Tide’ is in celebration of the NPWS Little Tern conservation project ran by BirdWatch Ireland in Kilcoole, funded by Creative Ireland and Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail. This project will realise an artwork along the Dublin-Rosslare Railway line in Wicklow, using participative practices including, highlighting climate and biodiversity issues at local and global scales through in person and online engagement.
The template could be used with other charity partners
Biodiversity crisis being addressed at a local level, that has shared learnings at a global scale.
1. 6-week creative programme;
Encouraging creative engagement with the Bird Watch Ireland (BWI) little tern conservation project, supported with expert talks from BWI project partners, facilitating participants through artist-led workshops to engage with our biodiversity crisis & wider climate change from a fresh perspective in a local and tangible way.
Develop local ambassadors to promote positive behavioural changes within the local community ie, promoting public and active transport options, staying away from nesting site during breeding season, not littering.
2. Final artwork;
Ideation for artwork will progress throughout workshop engagement with participants, with final artwork creation led by Artists; Marie Gordon & Laura McMahon, with support from IR providing a local site for the artwork, within view of the train line.
Showcase positive human interventions against the climate and biodiversity crisis
3. Novel communications for the project and project website;
Novel communications will lead those who pass by the artwork, including train users, to our project website. Website users will learn more about Little Terns and learn how positive climate action, like using the train, can help achieve our collective Climate Action Plan Goals to reduce Ireland’s emissions. The website will promote the creative project & encourage users to help BWI conservation projects by volunteering (a key goal of our charity partners). Irish Rail’s sustainability strategy for 2021-2023 & UN Sustainability Goals will also be linked. Online engagement will be tracked for key insights.
· Encourage project website users towards project partner BWI’s goal to have more volunteers sign up to support their conservation projects. Report against this with figures from monitored traffic on website link.
· Signpost users facts of birds and way to website in many touch points to promote this example
Encouraging creative engagement with the Bird Watch Ireland (BWI) little tern conservation project, supported with expert talks from BWI project partners, facilitating participants through artist-led workshops to engage with our biodiversity crisis & wider climate change from a fresh perspective in a local and tangible way.
Develop local ambassadors to promote positive behavioural changes within the local community ie, promoting public and active transport options, staying away from nesting site during breeding season, not littering.
2. Final artwork;
Ideation for artwork will progress throughout workshop engagement with participants, with final artwork creation led by Artists; Marie Gordon & Laura McMahon, with support from IR providing a local site for the artwork, within view of the train line.
Showcase positive human interventions against the climate and biodiversity crisis
3. Novel communications for the project and project website;
Novel communications will lead those who pass by the artwork, including train users, to our project website. Website users will learn more about Little Terns and learn how positive climate action, like using the train, can help achieve our collective Climate Action Plan Goals to reduce Ireland’s emissions. The website will promote the creative project & encourage users to help BWI conservation projects by volunteering (a key goal of our charity partners). Irish Rail’s sustainability strategy for 2021-2023 & UN Sustainability Goals will also be linked. Online engagement will be tracked for key insights.
· Encourage project website users towards project partner BWI’s goal to have more volunteers sign up to support their conservation projects. Report against this with figures from monitored traffic on website link.
· Signpost users facts of birds and way to website in many touch points to promote this example
