Girl Outdoors

Every girl, everyday experiences something that puts into question their safety, from inappropriate comments to sexual and violent assaults.

27% of young women said that their enjoyment of nature had been impacted by actual experiences of sexual harassment

Mental Health Foundation. (2021). ‘Nature. How connecting with nature benefits our mental health’

We wanted to raise awareness of these issues whilst finding a positive way to address challenges to women being able to go about their life.

Girl Outdoors aims to remove some of the barriers women face accessing the outdoors, by creating safe, creative spaces which bring people together where conversations can open up about the experiences that impact their safety and ability to go about life.

Women Walking

One of the ways we have worked to create a safe place has been through series of women-only creative walks titled Women Walking.

These regular walks were around Mill Waters from Sutton Lawn to Kings Mill Reservoir, and led by artist Amelia Daiz.

Each walk, Amelia set participants a creative task, ranging from surface rubbings to mark making and chalk drawings to zine making. She also set tasks to facilitate conversations around women’s safety and lived experience, all of which impact on women enjoying the outdoors, as well as other day to day activities.

The outcomes of these sessions have all fed into a series of artworks created by Amelia, to go on show at Mill Waters during the Celebrating Girl Outdoors event.

The sessions had a hugely positive response with a great turn out.

 

It has been a life line for me because of a life event which occurred prior to joining the women’s only walk…I’m grateful for it.

-Roz, walk participant

The sessions have been so popular that some of the participants are continuing to meet for regular walks.

Looking to the future

Artist Amelia Daiz worked with a group of  Year 6 girls from Leamington Primary Academy in Sutton in Ashfield.

Following a walk round Sutton Lawn, the student’s created drawings of their vision for future green spaces. They also designed a set of inspirational signs with positive affirmations for girls and women to be reminded by.

This project is led by First Art in partnership with Mill Waters Reservoirs and Parks as part of the Mill Waters Next Steps project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional funding has come the National Lottery through the Arts Council England’s Creative People and Places Programme.