Wetlands are crucial for water security. Less than 1% of Earth’s freshwater is usable and most of that is contained in wetlands, including about a third in rivers and lakes. The silt-rich soil and abundant plant vegetation of wetlands act like water filters, absorbing harmful toxins, agricultural pesticides and industrial waste.
Wetlands are grievously affected by plastic pollution, with more than 800 marine and coastal species affected by this pollution. Rivers and other wetlands are not only places that plastic waste flows through, they also are places where long-term deposits settle.
Wetlands and human life are interconnected, with people drawing sustenance, inspiration and resilience from these life-sustaining and sacred ecosystems. The state of our planet’s wetlands is deeply concerning for youth around the world. And a great sense of urgency is felt. Intergenerational dialogue on the wise use and conservation of these vulnerable ecosystems is critical to our shared future.
From prehistoric times, many hundreds of generations of people have settled in and around wetlands, often transforming their wetlands into cultural landscapes in which natural and human-made elements are uniquely combined. Cultural knowledge of wetlands constitutes a collective legacy for today’s societies. Across cultures, wetlands are seen as cultural landscapes embedded in identity, art and spirituality. Many communities consider wetlands sacred, home to ancestral spirits or ceremonial sites. Songs, dances, festivals and oral traditions often center on wetland life and cycles.
The profound and rapid social and economic transformations of recent decades have increasingly threatened the effective preservation of the cultural heritage typical of wetlands in many parts of the world.
You can learn more here: www.worldwetlandsday.org #WetlandsandCulturalHeritage
As part of our commitment to raising awareness of the importance of wetlands, we are running two Welcome to the Swamp workshops, you can sign up below!
Welcome to the Swamp Workshop – Immersive Somatic Workshop for Ecoanxiety
Stammer Wellbeing Gardens, 2pm – 4pm, 14th March and 7th April
Welcome to the Swamp is a project that explores understanding ourselves as biodiverse beings in transition through artistic practices. By doing so, it aims to counter apathy and feelings of disempowerment, foster a connection to our environment and climate, and build understanding of the importance of biodiversity. This is an intergenerational space, but all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
We’ll be working with consideration for our feelings and relationships in an ever-changing climate. In a time of climate crisis and anxiety, we will work through somatic practice to connect with the swamp, expressing ourselves with natural paints and giant grasses, an exploratory and grounding artistic adventure, aided by meditation and soundscape to journey us through our swamp experience. through our feelings on the climate crisis in a session working on the idea of the swamp. We’ll work with natural paints as we discuss climate issues in an inter-generational space of reflection and care. A perfect tonic for activist burn-out, a chance to learning more and meet new people!
Materials
We will use natural paints, all made from foraged materials. Some of these will be made in advance, and you will have the option to add to or make them on the day. We will be showing/explaining different ways of making these traditional natural paints, one of which includes the use of egg whites, which will have been sourced from local (to us!) Sussex free-range hens to thicken the paints, and others will involve using purely plant-based sources. The contents of the paints will be clearly labelled and explained, so you can choose which to use.
To book your place and find out more infomration on the workshop please see our Eventbrite!
You can learn more about Welcome to the Swamp here! https://www.magneticideals.org/home/research/swamp/
