Our Big Green – Our Coast’s Hidden Gem

LeftCoast have teamed up with Affinity Lancashire to showcase Fleetwood’s hidden gem  - Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve

In 2019 a group of local Fleetwood residents, working with LeftCoast commissioned artist Ocean Farini, started weekly walks to Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve. These weekly gatherings offered the opportunity to explore this often overlooked green space with new eyes, chat, experiment with photography and make drawings.

Our Big Green is the project that they created. A series of artworks, photographs and poems that are inspired by the wide open spaces of Fleetwood Marsh Nature Reserve and the creative conversations that took place on those walks. Slightly delayed due to Covid you can now see these images and poems, including a limited edition book at Affinity Lancashire.

Ocean said, “Our Big Green was all about seeing a green space slowly; through walking in it, talking in it or recording it. The people who created Our Big Green all have brilliantly varied perspectives of the nature reserve, their place in it and the importance of it. The images and words that were made are a celebration of the space, of the area and of people trying stuff out together in the fresh air. They hope to open the door for more people to experience the underrated effect these local green spaces can have on us."

Tina Redford, LeftCoast’s Artistic Director said, “The Nature Reserve in Fleetwood might sometimes be overlooked as a place for residents to visit. Ocean, an artist who lived in the Flakefleet community for over a year, created a gentle walk and talk project that encouraged a group of local people to look with new eyes at the green spaces around them.

“Residents enjoyed discovering hidden talents within themselves too – including poetry, sketching and photography. The results are thoughtful and personal and you can see the work displayed on posters at Affinity at the moment.

Catherine Holmes, Centre Manager at Affinity Lancashire commented “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with LeftCoast and to be able to showcase the Our Big Green Project around the centre. As the nature reserve is situated on our doorstep it’s provides a fantastic opportunity for our customers to connect with the area around us. Here at Affinity Lancashire the local community are hugely important to us, so we are honored to be able to work with LeftCoast and show our support”

Our Big Green is now being exclusively showcased in partnership with Affinity Lancashire in Fleetwood, inspiring customers to follow the trail around the centre and then onto explore the nature reserve which is situated on Affinity’s doorstep.

In partnership with LeftCoast and Regenda this project is an invitation to step into to take ownership of the underused areas in our community.