This expedition took place on the
8th of November 2024, on Hilbre Island.
The Ecologies of Hilbre Island
A Creative Expedition
A creative expedition to Hilbre Island, a landmark in the river Dee estuary
and our ‘Galapagos’ in the North West of England.
This event was part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, which took place between the 7th and 16th November 2024. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy.
For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
About the Creative Expedition
It has been 165 years since Charles Darwin published ‘On the Origin of Species’; a landmark text in evolutionary biology. To mark this occasion, we invite you to join us on an expedition to Hilbre Island, a landmark in the river Dee estuary and our ‘Galapagos’ in the North West of England. We embark on a creative investigation of the island’s ecologies through storytelling, observational drawing, poetry and performance, looking closely at how the land, sea and humans interconnect.
Walking across the mudflats of the Dee estuary from West Kirkby, attendees will listen to an audio guide which comprises a history of the island and oral histories from locals.
On the island attendees will choose to take part in one of two workshops that observe and document the island 1) Creative writing and charcoal rubbings will record the island’s geology and generate a ‘mapping’ of the island’s geological history 2) A field sketching workshop to identify species of migrating birds visiting the island, before drawing an evolutionary (phylogenetic) tree.
Finally, a poetry performance based on collected oral histories and poetry, will be performed in a costume that turns a performer into the native sea lavender. We will then walk back to West Kirby before high tide.
This event is part of Being Human Festival, the UK’s national festival of the humanities, taking place 7–16 November 2024. Led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London, with generous support from Research England, in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. For further information please see beinghumanfestival.org.
AUDIO GUIDED TOUR · WORKSHOPS · POETRY PERFORMANCE · LEGACY ARTWORK
↓ Find out more below ↓
This audio guided walk takes visitors to Hilbre Island on a tour that comprises the geological history of the archipelago, observations about the flora, the birds and oral histories from local residents. The tour culminates with a meditation to help re-evaluate our roles as humans in the web of life.
Audio guided tour
Workshops
WORKSHOP I
’Impressions’ by Luciana Hermida
On this workshop we observed and documented the geological patterns of Hilbre Islands rock formations through observational drawing, charcoal rubbings and creative writing in order to form a series of nature impressions. The impressions formed a record of the islands geology and contribute to the deep mapping of the island. Afterwards, a group discussion enabled the revealing of people’s connection with the landscape.
WORKSHOP II
’Bird Taxonomies’ by Jay Hampton
A field sketching workshop to introduce the evolution of bird species on the island and an introduction to how other artists captured nature. Using arts based research methods we sketched and observed the migratory birds present on the day of the event. Then we collaborated as a group to describe and sort the collection of bird sketches into our own evolutionary tree. This was a citizen science investigation to log the species present through visual recording. These images were passed on to the research groups working on the island to include in their research activities.
A poetry performance culminated the experience of the Hilbre Creative Expedition. The poetry was written by Yvonne Reddick. The voices of the water, the rocks, the wind, the rock sea lavenders and a shantyman ghost (Gerry Smyth) spoke for Hilbre Island. The poetry was performed by Yvonne Reddick and Luciana Hermida, in costumes (produced by Libby Robinson) which turned the performers into the sandstone and native rock sea lavender of the island.
Poetry Performance
Legacy artwork
‘Impressions’ (2024)
By artist Luciana Hermida in collaboration with attendees of Hilbre A Creative Expedition (Nov 2024).
Mixed Media
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This artwork was created using the rock rubbings in charcoal, pastels and pencils produced by the attendess to the workshop ‘Impressions’, part of the event ‘The Ecologies of Hilbre Island - A Creative Expedition’ (Being Human Festival 2024). The assemblage of the artwork was developed by the artist, which was produced on a reclaimed wood board of 119cm wide x 59cm high, it features additions in acrylic paint and collage elements by the artist.
The artwork expresses the interconnections and exchanges between the land, sea and humans. It explores the permeability of the land and the sea, as well as our impressions of these. The collaborative aspect of the artwork, produced by the juxtaposition of different rubbings and painted elements enables the island to become a living mattering entity, constructed by both physical aspects and at a deeper level, it turns into a visual and conceptual platform where humans construct what the island is.
The background in green and blue tones represent the sea, whilst the scrunched paper with the rock rubbings represent the land of Hilbre. The letters on the right hand side which form the word ‘Hilbre’ represent the human imprint, by the use of language.
Special thanks to everyone who attended the workshop and help on constructing a collaborative impression of Hilbre.
Feedback from attendees
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I enjoyed being in nature and exploring the islands with the audio guide. It was also very nice to connect with the other attendees. Everyone was very mindful and present during the event. I also really enjoyed the poetry reading and seeing the art created by Luciana.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
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I really enjoyed the poetry session as well as looking closely at the rocks. There was interesting discussion in the art session about the beauty of the rocks overtime.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
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I thought the quality of all the resources for the day was outstanding. The preparation done for the day was very impressive.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
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It is one of the greatest public engagement events I have attended- it was so interdisciplinary, welcoming and inspiring.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
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I gained a heightened awareness of the islands as part of the whole ecology, with the life forms and natural features all interlinked and acting on each other.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
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I enjoyed all of it but the creative elements were most tangible. The 'primitive' setting was very charming and the lunch was lovely. The walk towards the islands was calming and meditative.
Attendee of The Ecologies of Hilbre Island, a Creative Expedition (2024).
The Multidisciplinary Team
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Mark Roughley
Reader in Interdisciplinary Practice, art-science researcher leading the event.
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Luciana Hermida
Artist-researcher and MA Art in Science student. Developed and created the audio tour and geology workshop, producing legacy artworks and poetry performance.
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Jay Hampton
Sci-Artist leading bird watching workshop, and producing legacy artworks. Poetry performance.
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Dominic Wilkinson
Principal Lecturer in Architecture developing an Art, Science and Sustainability research centre on Hilbre Island and co-leading the event.
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Yvonne Reddick
Writer, researcher and poet.
Creation and performance
of the poetry. -
Libby Robinson
Post-graduate researcher in Education. Created the costumes for the event.
The Ecologies of Hilbre Island - A Creative Expedition was an event by students and academics of Liverpool School of Art & Design (Liverpool John Moores University).
In partnership with BADA (British Art and Design Association) and members of the Hilbre Community Land Trust.
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