The CORRIDORS OF CONNECTION community arts project tells the story of the nature restoration projects that are being undertaken by the Chiddingly community. Many of the projects, supported by the Lund Trust through the High Weald Nature and Community Fund, are about clearing, restoring and replanting corridors for nature. This has included tree planting, hedgerow restoration and invasive species clearance. CORRIDORS OF CONNECTION is a collective of artworks, which culminated in an exhibition during Artwave 2025. Thanks to Greening Chiddingly farmers, the Chiddingly community, the Lund Trust and the Gun Brewery for their support.
Community Weave
The Community Weave was created by the Chiddingly community at the Green Jamboree 2025 (part of the annual Green Weekend) and during "Crafty Mornings" at Childdingly Village Shop and Cafe. The Community Weave symbolises the food and fibre sovereignty in Chiddingly village. It helps us collectively to see the connections in our rural landscape and the steps that are being taken by the community to grow food, restore the habitats of our native species and eliminate invasive species.
The frame for the Community Weave was bent, woven and stripped from willow and hazel coppiced from Burchetts Farm and Hawthbush Farm in Chiddingly. Foraged natural materials were then woven into the frame. These included barley, corn, wheat, sunflowers, rushes and grasses, all donated from the 2025 harvest at Farley’s Farm, Hale Farm and Nash Street Farm. The Latin names of the freshwater insect and vertebrates species detected in local rivers and streams during eDNA testing were also woven into the frame. The names of both native and invasive species were written on strips of specially created seed paper, hand made using local seeds. The DNA sequences for selected species were written on bark from the stripped willow frame and suspended as spirals on the completed artwork.
By combining scientific results and agricultural material into a collective artwork, we share the care, the very real concerns and the skill and artistry that go into farming and restoring our rural landscape in these increasingly challenging times. Images of the collective creation of the Community Weave are shown below.
The frame for the Community Weave was bent, woven and stripped from willow and hazel coppiced from Burchetts Farm and Hawthbush Farm in Chiddingly. Foraged natural materials were then woven into the frame. These included barley, corn, wheat, sunflowers, rushes and grasses, all donated from the 2025 harvest at Farley’s Farm, Hale Farm and Nash Street Farm. The Latin names of the freshwater insect and vertebrates species detected in local rivers and streams during eDNA testing were also woven into the frame. The names of both native and invasive species were written on strips of specially created seed paper, hand made using local seeds. The DNA sequences for selected species were written on bark from the stripped willow frame and suspended as spirals on the completed artwork.
By combining scientific results and agricultural material into a collective artwork, we share the care, the very real concerns and the skill and artistry that go into farming and restoring our rural landscape in these increasingly challenging times. Images of the collective creation of the Community Weave are shown below.
Foraged willow from Burchetts Farm used in the Community Weave. Image: Gail Giles.
|
The suspended and bent willow frame for the Community Weave. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Foraging corn at sunset, just before the harvest at Farley's Farm. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Weaving mini looms of stripped willow and corn to be added to the Community Weave. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Adding seed paper with native and invasive species names to the Community Weave at the Green Jamboree 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Community members adding to the Community Weave at the Green Jamboree 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Wild Weave Looms
Wild Weave Looms was an opportunity for students at the Aspire Farm School at Hale Farm, Chiddingly, to tell their farm school story through weaving. The students first had to identify willow and hazel species in the woods and hedges of the farm. Carefully, using cutting tools, they coppiced branches to construct their weaving looms. Learning to lash and create the weft, using string and twine, took a lot of patience and dexterity.
The students learnt about the role of natural textures in art and design. Foraging for bark, lichen, feathers, wool, flowers, fruits and seeds over the seasons opened their eyes to the possibilities of creating with the natural world around them. They discovered the beauty of the changing colours and forms of natural materials on the farm.
At Easter, the students copied a traditional Ukrainian technique of decorating eggs using a wax resist method and natural plant dyes. The students collected hens, bantams and goose eggs from the farm to blow and decorate with plant dyes and pressed flowers. Returning to their Wild Weave Looms over the course of a year, encouraged resilience, determination, concentration, fine motor skills and creativity. The design project gave the students a real sense of achievement. They were proud to be exhibited as part of the Corridors of Connection Exhibition at Artwave 2025.
The students learnt about the role of natural textures in art and design. Foraging for bark, lichen, feathers, wool, flowers, fruits and seeds over the seasons opened their eyes to the possibilities of creating with the natural world around them. They discovered the beauty of the changing colours and forms of natural materials on the farm.
At Easter, the students copied a traditional Ukrainian technique of decorating eggs using a wax resist method and natural plant dyes. The students collected hens, bantams and goose eggs from the farm to blow and decorate with plant dyes and pressed flowers. Returning to their Wild Weave Looms over the course of a year, encouraged resilience, determination, concentration, fine motor skills and creativity. The design project gave the students a real sense of achievement. They were proud to be exhibited as part of the Corridors of Connection Exhibition at Artwave 2025.
Creating hazel frames for the Wild Weave looms. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Students weaving on willow framed circle looms. Image: Gail Giles.
|
A completed wild weave, created from foraged feathers and foliage from Hale Farm. Image: Gail Giles.
|
A completed wild weave, created from foraged feathers and wool from Hale Farm. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Blown goose eggs decorated using a Ukrainian wax resist method and natural plant dyes. Image: Gail Giles.
|
A completed wild weave, created from foraged holly and bark from Hale Farm. Image: Gail Giles.
|
CORRIDORS OF CONNECTION at Artwave 2025
|
The fruits of everyone’s labour and creativity was an exhibition and series of participatory workshops at the Gun Brewery in Chiddingly for Artwave 2025. The giant sculptural Community Weave was suspended from the ceiling of the brewery's public taproom. Wild Weave Looms took up an entire wall, hanging collectively on lengths of freshly stripped Chiddingly willow. Three Sussex artists joined us for this unique collaboration: Matilda Grover, Lorraine Singer and Katie Preece. The artists not only joined in the spirit of foraging from our local landscape but ran three inspiring workshops for Artwave festival-goers amongst the sparkling and bubbling steel sentinel brewing vats. The artists connected with the Chiddingly landscape for their work for the Corridors of Connection exhibition, utilising local clay, willow, hazel, Juncus and inspiration.
|
|
Matilda Grover foraging hazel at Hawthbush Farm ahead of Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Lorraine Singer foraging wild clay at Smithlands Farm ahead of Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Katie Preece sketching a design for a print in Chiddingly fields ahead of Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Matilda Grover hanging woven baskets and mats in the Gun Brewery for Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Lorraine Singer delivering a wild clay workshop in the Gun Brewery during Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Katie Preece delivering a print pottery workshop in the Gun Brewery during Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Example of a lino cut by Katie Preece later used to create a ceramic picture for sale at Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
Decorating a cup and plate using foraged Chiddingly corn and barley during a slab building workshop at Artwave 2025. Image: Gail Giles.
|
About the artists
Matilda Grover is a Sussex based basket weaver and designer. Her connection with the natural world, and desire to live and work in a sustainable way, has led her to work increasingly with natural and local materials. Matilda divides her time between making bespoke orders for clients, teaching basketry workshops and working part-time at Studio Amos. Matilda strives for her work to reflect her personal style and interest in functional, understated products, taking inspiration from historic, global crafts. When designing and making baskets she draws on the traditional styles that she admires, whilst weaving contemporary shapes and forms suitable for modern living. You can find out more about Matilda's work on her webpage: www.matildagrover.com.
Lorraine Singer is a professional ceramicist. Her work is deeply embedded in the natural surroundings of her rural home, incorporating home-dug clay and wood ash that firmly connect her creative process with the natural world that informs her daily life. Lorraine’s work encompasses a soft natural palette, mixing traditional stoneware with home dug, iron-rich Sussex clay to create texture and patina on ceramic forms, slips and glazes. The endless possibilities offered by Lorraine’s own fast-fire wood kiln enables her to experiment with a range of different materials and firing techniques. You can find out more about Lorraine's work at www.lorrainesingerceramics.com.
Katie Preece is a printmaker and potter. Growing up in the Hampshire countryside, Katie was always drawn to the textures and tones of the natural world. That love of nature has snuck its way into Katie’s ceramics, with earthy textures, muted colours, and patterns that feel organic and grounded. Katie originally studied printmaking at the University of Brighton, but clay soon stole her heart. Bringing her love of linocutting into ceramics felt like the perfect match. Katie discovered the satisfaction of carving bold patterns and pressing them into the soft, squidgy surface of clay. Today, Katie creates pieces that celebrate the beauty of imperfection. There is no mass production at KP Studio, just slow, thoughtful making with as little waste as possible. Using British clay, Katie hand-builds ceramics that are functional and beautiful. For the CORRIDORS OF CONNECTION exhibition, Katie created an original print design inspired by the Chiddingly farms and landscape. Read more about Katie's work at www.kp-studio.co.uk.
Lorraine Singer is a professional ceramicist. Her work is deeply embedded in the natural surroundings of her rural home, incorporating home-dug clay and wood ash that firmly connect her creative process with the natural world that informs her daily life. Lorraine’s work encompasses a soft natural palette, mixing traditional stoneware with home dug, iron-rich Sussex clay to create texture and patina on ceramic forms, slips and glazes. The endless possibilities offered by Lorraine’s own fast-fire wood kiln enables her to experiment with a range of different materials and firing techniques. You can find out more about Lorraine's work at www.lorrainesingerceramics.com.
Katie Preece is a printmaker and potter. Growing up in the Hampshire countryside, Katie was always drawn to the textures and tones of the natural world. That love of nature has snuck its way into Katie’s ceramics, with earthy textures, muted colours, and patterns that feel organic and grounded. Katie originally studied printmaking at the University of Brighton, but clay soon stole her heart. Bringing her love of linocutting into ceramics felt like the perfect match. Katie discovered the satisfaction of carving bold patterns and pressing them into the soft, squidgy surface of clay. Today, Katie creates pieces that celebrate the beauty of imperfection. There is no mass production at KP Studio, just slow, thoughtful making with as little waste as possible. Using British clay, Katie hand-builds ceramics that are functional and beautiful. For the CORRIDORS OF CONNECTION exhibition, Katie created an original print design inspired by the Chiddingly farms and landscape. Read more about Katie's work at www.kp-studio.co.uk.