Year 3 pupils at St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Fownhope, have enjoyed performing songs and telling stories following five weeks of fun filled art and music workshops for the children.

Funded by Children In Need for three years, WyldWood Arts is bringing children and vulnerable adults together through arts, crafts and music through the ‘River Roots’ project.                                                                                                               

Following the theme of ‘River Roots’, the Fownhope group have been making their own stories, props and songs inspired by their River stories. They have also learnt and adapted songs.

Bym Welthy ran the music workshops supported by artist Lucy Baxendale and Storyteller Adam Blake. The sessions included visual arts and music based on a river theme, including collage, singing and movement.

Penny Allen, Project Manager, said: “We’ve absolutely loved running another term of activities with St Mary’s school, this time with year 3 class. They’ve been such a wonderful, enthusiastic group, and have really thrown themselves in to our sessions.

“As with all of our projects, we set out to involve the wider community taking our celebration to residents of Brockhampton Court – we believe that arts should be for everyone and bring benefit to the whole community. We hope to work with the brilliant St Mary’s School and their community again in the future.”

Teacher, Miss Scrivens, said: “The Class have really enjoyed their weekly sessions with Bym and others from River Roots. They have loved the creative storytelling and mask making activities and are really excited to share their story with the residents at Brockhampton Court.”

Matron, Brockhampton Court, said: “Everyone who watched the performance was enthralled and entranced by the commitment of the children and their subsequent integration with residents.”

Wyldwood Arts is a CIC running intergenerational and community-focused arts projects across Herefordshire. Since starting River Roots in early 2018, Wyldwood Arts have also worked with many other partners in Herefordshire including Ross-on-Wye’s Young Carers, Dulas Court Care Home, Madley Primary School and the Pontrilas Dementia Café. Keep an eye out for further ‘River Roots’ public events across Herefordshire during 2019.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.