Marshy Mud Flats Exhibition

Setting Up

Preview

Popped in for 10 minutes………… stayed an hour…….. then returned.
A five star exhibition that highlighted not only the ART but the personality and passions of the artist
A Delightful Experience Life Enriching.
Thank you.

Love the idea of ripping art-one of my favourite places on earth being represented too. Really interesting thank you for sharing.

A beautifully exhibited display – lovely to look at and I’ve rarely seen an exhibition which reflects the artist so beautifully
Vanessa

Very evocative of the marsh. Good to highlight how we might nurture this special place better, Beautifully put together.

Glorious memories of my many walks on the marsh thank you

Haunting, inspiring and captivating the unique spirit of the marsh Let’s hope more will follow

Can’t stop coming in Beautiful work

Highly Recommended
Fiona Spirals has curated a beautiful and sensitive exhibition of her own work alongside other artist collaborators at St. George’s Art Centre. There is subtly within the collages that belie a sadness at what we are doing to the world while celebrating the true extraordinary beauty of The Thames marshes around Higham in Kent.
John from The Fourth Portal

BIG THANKS

I really need to give a big shout out of THANKS to a few folks for helping me make this exhibition happen.

Richie Sloan for the brilliant slide show, support & sculptures

Jane Trowell and Tim Goddard for all your support on so many levels

Dianne Reeves for the microplastic photos & rubbish interpretation & support

Hannah Bishop for the flora displays & foraging around Higham

Laura Fisher Photographer of me on The Wreck

Harry Taebron Photographer for your marsh photo & help setting up

Mark Whitehead for designing the flyer

Bellinda Lamb from Medway Swale Estuary Partnership for marsh rubbish info & smarty display

Simon at Singlewell printers

James at Hulkes Lane Darkroom & Studio for prints

And of course all The Gravesham team that make this possible at St George’s Arts Centre

Section showing details of Marsh Rubbish

Microplastic

Have you heard of microplastics? They are tiny pieces of plastic that are made when larger bits of plastic break down.

This is a type of plastic pollution, where plastic is damaging natural environments.
A new study from the University of Portsmouth has found 100 times more microplastics in the coast around the UK than there were six years ago.
This research was not done in a lab, instead the University gathered its data through three rowing teams that headed on a 2,000 mile row around the UK.
When larger pieces of plastic such as plastic bottles break down, they can turn into smaller pieces. Anything smaller than 5mm is called a microplastic – so glitter counts as a microplastic.
You do get some pieces that are even smaller – which are called nanoplastics. These are pieces of plastic that we can’t see with the human eye.
These plastics pollute the environment and create health problems for animals, as they can easily be ingested.
Last year it was found that rare seabirds have been eating glitter and other microplastics found in the sea.
Scientists from the University of Portsmouth collected information on microplastics by working with a team of rowers taking on a huge rowing challenge.
They rowed all around the coast of the UK, which is 2,000 miles of water.
The researchers then compared the data with data from a different study done in 2017, by the UK’s centre for Fishing and Agriculture science.
In 2017 there were 0 to 1.5 microplastics per cubic metre of seawater – the new study found that now there is 0 to 121 microplastics. This is nearly 100 times more than 2017.
What can we do about plastic pollution?
Last year, a global agreement was made to try and tackle plastic pollution.
World leaders have until 2024 to agree the plastic pollution treaty and how the deal will be paid for.
Around 40% of plastic produced each year is single use, meaning it can’t really be used again. Single-use plastic are things like crisp packets, plastic carrier bags or plastic drinks bottles.

What to do about rubbish ?

I’ve sat at my computer for a long time wondering what to say about rubbish on the marsh and the wider problem of litter, single us plastic, micro plastic food packaging the list goes on and on. Where ever you go there is litter and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

This is sooooooooooooooo depressing !
Of course we us too much and throw away too much.
If we all used less this would be a small tiny step.
We do need to make less packaging.

There are litter picks out on the marsh which are organised, its very hard getting the bags off as its so far from anywhere and you cant walk with the amount there is
So often there is a skip.
Also local organised have litter picks which really do make a big difference.

Litter Pickers

If you are one of these people who arrange litter picks and are reading this it would be great if you could write down your details so everyone can see. Ta

Contacts for litter picks
Belinda Lamb Medway Swale Estuary Partnership

belinda.lamb@medway.gov.uk

Extinction Rebellion Gravesend FB

The Hans Egede

Dutch-built ship ‘Hans Egede’ currently lies half destroyed and rotting along the Kent coast. There’s no hope of it ever being used again; only left for nature to continue eroding it. But how did it come to be rotting in Cliffe?

Named after a Norwegian missionary (Hans Poulsen Egede) the three-masted ship was built in 1922. In August 1955 the ship sustained fire damage and was towed to Dover. The fire damage isn’t thought to have been too serious, as in 1957 the vessel was used for storing coal and grain along the River Meadway. The ships’ final journey was heading London-bound along the Thames, being towed by a tug from Gravesend. Having not been sufficiently repaired previously, the strain from the tug became too much and caused the boat to start flooding. The ship was finally left at Cliffe, where it still lies.

The Hans Egede was constructed in 1922 by J. TH. Jorgensen at Thuro, Denmark. She was a wooden auxiliary three masted schooner.

On 21st August 1955 a fire broke out aboard her causing damage, she was towed to Dover where the fire was subsequently extinguished.

New owners were found for her in 1957, Atlas Diesel Co. subsequently had her towed out of Dover by the tug Westercock.

She was anchored in the River Medway for a few years finding use as a coal or grain hulk. Eventually she was to be towed to Cubits Town on the Thames by the tug Fossa from Gravesend.

Due to the weakened structure of the Hans Egede from it’s years of being sat on the River Medway she began to take on water and began to sink before grounding on Blyth Sands.

Eventually the decision was made to beach her at Cliffe where she has remained ever since.

Adventures on the marsh

These two photographs were taken many years apart, the first one in the late 1980s and the other August this year.
Laura and myself took a walk from Cliffe pools to the wreck and while I wandered around looking at the wreck she took some great pictures of me.
Storm clouds gathered and the heavens opened on the way back and we got very wet. Somehow this all adds to the story of this old girl disappearing into the mud.
When I first met Richie I took him to the marshes and to my delight he loved it as much as me.
We have spent many hours there in all weathers.
It was so hot a few summers ago that we needed to keep stopping and finding shade, finally arriving at the Hans Egede and sitting in her shade until the heat of the day had gone. We then watch the sun go down only to be rewarded with a full moon rise.
One new years eve we were planning to see the new year in on the marsh.
We walked to the Thames in the afternoon to take a look and set up base but the wind was so cold it got into our bones and the adventure we were planning was ditched.
Home we went to warm up next to a log fire!
Good decision

The Hans Egede & Stacks

You were able to climb onto the deck of The Hans Egede even up to a few years ago.
I have talked to people who as kids would play on her. They would bung any holes up and wait for the tide to come in and as she floated on the tide they would jump off scared stiff. You can imagine the games and fun that was had on her. I would love to gather the history of these stories and any old photographs.

And now 44,000 tides later she has very nearly gone. I have watched her decay with much interest sketching and photographing her, dragging huge pieces of wood home for the garden.

The stacks which are rotting posts in the mud were part of a Jetty once upon a time and are of great interest too.
I have created countless sketches and collages of them in different seasons.
I guess I will still be making work of these until they go.
You never know who or what you are going to meet down there!

Its a great place to chill out and without a doubt needs to be protected NO AIRPORT HERE Thank you!

Leave it alone for the birds and for people who what a bit of peace.

St Mary’s Church sits on the edge of the marsh

On the edge of quietness and solitude

extracts from Marsh Walking 1991
Fiona

The Church on the edge of the marsh.

St. Mary’s is an unusual building set in one of the most distinctive landscapes of the South East.
It stands on the edge of open marshland, and looks towards the river Thames across waving reed beds and narrow stretches of water.
RSPB reserves are close by.
The church has grown over the years since Norman times, doubling in size in the 14th century,
perhaps to serve a nearby community of nuns.
It contains a wonderful selection of medieval woodwork and its big quiet spaces are there for everyone to enjoy.
Only a few services are held at St. Mary’s,
and since 1987 the church has been maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust. ;

The Ripple really pulls you in !
I wanted to create a little nook in the gallery
where people could sit and feel the heart of marsh beating.
Here are a few pictures showing it.