Swindon Museums hosted an event at Lydiard House Museum and Park this past weekend called ‘Take to the Skies’, which gave pupils from several primary schools a rare opportunity to assist in flying birds of prey, including falcons.
The schools involved in the event were Ridgeway Farm Academy, Shaw Ridge, Tregoze, Peatmoor, and Lydiard Millicent.
The pupils had been collaborating with Lydiard House Museum staff for several months on the ‘Wild Escape’ project, which aims to encourage museums and schools across the UK to explore the natural world.
As part of the project, the children were taught about the falcon, which was the emblem of the St John family that lived in Lydiard House for more than 500 years. They worked with a local artist to create artwork related to the falcon, which is currently on display at the museum.
During the final celebration event at Lydiard Park, The Falconry School’s Head Falconer, John Dowding, showcased some of the birds that had inspired the children’s artwork. The families also had the opportunity to view the pupils’ exhibition and explore Lydiard House Museum.
The Wild Escape project, which is supported by Art Fund and Arts Council England, aims to address the urgent issues of climate crisis and biodiversity loss.
Sara Stone and Gwen Pontefract, Learning and Engagement Officers at Lydiard House Museum, said: “Being involved in The Wild Escape has been a really special opportunity for us and pupils.
“It has helped us all to think about our access to nature in Swindon, and the importance of protecting our biodiversity. The chance to meet these beautiful birds has been a powerful reminder of why we need to act now to protect our natural world.”
Frances Yeo, Swindon Museums Manager, said: “We’ve been delighted by the artworks produced by pupils as part of The Wild Escape at Lydiard.
“This project has been a great addition to our Schools Programme at Lydiard House Museum and Park and was a fantastic way to work with local schools and families.”
