THE OUTDOOR SPACE

THE OUTDOOR SPACE

Our roots

When the pandemic hit, our community centre like lots of other community buildings was forced to close. Faced with a potential food waste disaster with no building open to share our food collections, the team refocused their efforts to warmly welcome people to meet, chat and share food in the outdoor space while the rest of the team worked on a strategy to create a safer, more inviting, and a more enjoyable experience for our visitors.

The seed for this project was planted in early 2019 and following a public consultation at ‘A Taste of’ event in June the team began fundraising and collaborating with Tesco about the regular use of the area. ‘The Outdoor Space’ was an unloved urban gateway to Wolverton from the carpark of the busy superstore. People that used the entrance and attended The Old Bath House and Community Centre felt it was unwelcoming, dirty and unsafe.

How it’s grown – inspiration

The team’s inspiration was to breathe new life into ‘The Outdoor Space’ and celebrate the outside inside. A celebration of Milton Keynes, its resilient and diverse community and our human need to connect and be creative. We care about the people we share this space with.

Save Wolverton Swifts and Martins – this local group aims to raise awareness of these endangered annual visitors to Wolverton and encourage them to breed here by installing nest boxes and swift callers. The idea of making mosaic swifts and martins fitted with the theme of ‘bringing the outside inside’ and the 40+ birds made by members of the public which have been installed on the walls and pillars help to connect all the artworks together in the space, bringing a sense of movement and sparkle to the area while at the same time raising awareness of the plight of these birds.

Cathy and Jill in workshop
Creating Ella
Soaring Drift by Sara Myers

The nutrients – artwork and collaborators

Clarence Gill – Mural by Timothy B Layden and Luke McDonnell

Les Jeffery ‘Wizard of Wolverton’ – Mural by Timothy B Layden

Ella – Mural by Timothy B Layden and Luke McDonnell

Soaring Drift – Sculpture by Sara Myers

Stained Glass Bird Mosaic – by Cathy Ebbels and Jill Kitchen

Mosaic swifts, swallows and housemartins – mosaics by members of the public at covid safe workshops during lockdown.

Original historical brick relief (1994) – by Richard Kindersley

Gavin Grace – wood specialist and installation
Guy Jones –
lighting
Hel Innes – project co-ordinator
Iain Talbot – wood upcycling
Simon Beckett – photography and video

Everyone’s part in this collaborative project has been a labour of love… THANK YOU!

Soaring Drift by Sara Myers

The nutrients – artwork and collaborators

Clarence Gill – Mural by Timothy B Layden and Luke McDonnell

Les Jeffery ‘Wizard of Wolverton’ – Mural by Timothy B Layden

Ella – Mural by Timothy B Layden and Luke McDonnell

Soaring Drift – Sculpture by Sara Myers

Stained Glass Bird Mosaic – by Cathy Ebbels and Jill Kitchen

Mosaic swifts, swallows and housemartins – mosaics by members of the public at covid safe workshops during lockdown.

Gavin Grace – wood specialist and installation
Guy Jones –
lighting
Hel Innes – project co-ordinator
Iain Talbot – wood upcycling
Simon Beckett – photography and video

Everyone’s part in this collaborative project has been a labour of love… THANK YOU!

Mosaic workshop participants:

Thank you to everyone that took part in our series of participative mosaic workshops to create an individual swift or housemartin. The unique birds bring the space to life and we love them.

Cathy Ebbels, Jill Kitchen, Helen Innes, Isla Innes, Elsie Innes, Hannah Walton, Sheelagh Lauder, Gabrielle Radiguet, Sarah Johnson, Maggie Beckett, Jo Fensome, Helen Canham, Zoe Canham, Jane MacKenzie, Hannah Fountain-Nixon, Marni Fountain-Nixon, Elle Fountain-Nixon, Farah Fountain-Nixon, Danielle Hall, Amelie Hall, Rachel Fenn, Rowan Fenn, Corin Fenn, Michaela Clark, Natasha Edwards, Gary Edwards, Caitlin Edwards, Emma Brookes, Naomi Lutman, Flora Wang, Ruth Crosfill, Becky Crosfill, Margaret Persuard and Timothy Layden.
Creating mosaic birds

Mosaic workshop participants:

Thank you to everyone that took part in our series of participative mosaic workshops to create an individual swift or housemartin. The unique birds bring the space to life and we love them.

Cathy Ebbels, Jill Kitchen, Helen Innes, Isla Innes, Elsie Innes, Hannah Walton, Sheelagh Lauder, Gabrielle Radiguet, Sarah Johnson, Maggie Beckett, Jo Fensome, Helen Canham, Zoe Canham, Jane MacKenzie, Hannah Fountain-Nixon, Marni Fountain-Nixon, Elle Fountain-Nixon, Farah Fountain-Nixon, Danielle Hall, Amelie Hall, Rachel Fenn, Rowan Fenn, Corin Fenn, Michaela Clark, Natasha Edwards, Gary Edwards, Caitlin Edwards, Emma Brookes, Naomi Lutman, Flora Wang, Ruth Crosfill, Becky Crosfill, Margaret Persuard and Timothy Layden.
Creating mosaic birds

Keeping the project hydrated

We would like to thank our funders and supporters; Aviva ‘Don’t panic’ crowdfunder, Coop Membership scheme, Les Jeffery’s Family, Councillor Pete Marland, Postcode Lottery, Councillor Norman Miles, Tesco and Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council.

 

Keeping the project hydrated

We would like to thank our funders and supporters; Aviva ‘Don’t panic’ crowdfunder, Coop Membership scheme, Les Jeffery’s Family, Councillor Pete Marland, Postcode Lottery, Councillor Norman Miles, Tesco and Wolverton and Greenleys Town Council.

 

Growing plans for the future

The Outdoor Space hosts Wolverton community fridge sessions, a monthly craft fayre and Cafe Zero (pop-up cafe) to bring our community together in a safe place.

This project is in its first phase… If you are inspired and there is something you would like to organise, create or do in The Outdoor Space or at The Old Bath House to bring another branch of what we do to life, please contact the team.

chair@oldbathhouse.org
facebook.com/oldbathhousewolverton
www.oldbathhouse.org

If you would like to see more images of The Outdoor Space project – check out our gallery here

Cafe Zero

Growing plans for the future

Cafe Zero

The Outdoor Space hosts Wolverton community fridge sessions, a monthly craft fayre and Cafe Zero (pop-up cafe) to bring our community together in a safe place.

This project is in its first phase… If you are inspired and there is something you would like to organise, create or do in The Outdoor Space or at The Old Bath House to bring another branch of what we do to life, please contact the team.

chair@oldbathhouse.org
facebook.com/oldbathhousewolverton
www.oldbathhouse.org

If you would like to see more images of The Outdoor Space project – check out our gallery here