Living Mythologies - Urban Wilderness commission
National Forest Art Grant
Living Mythologies was a participatory artist commission by Urban Wilderness CIC delivered in Badgers Wood, part of the National Forest, in Burton-on-Trent.
The project explored how creative activity can support wellbeing, deepen connections to nature, and strengthen a sense of place. Badgers Wood was chosen for its mix of ancient and newly planted woodland within an urban setting, accessible to both residential communities and Queens Hospital.
Urban Wilderness worked in partnership with the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust Youth Forum, engaging young people aged 10–17 living with long-term health conditions. Through a woodland-based creative workshop, participants explored the site using photography, audio recording, storytelling and textile printing. Activities were designed to be calm, accessible and non-pressured, allowing young people to engage on their own terms and build confidence through shared making and exploration.
Mythological woodland stories were used as a framework to connect personal experience with wider themes such as transformation, care, environmental awareness and identity. The work culminated in a public community celebration where participants’ photographs, textiles and recorded reflections were professionally presented, affirming their contributions and creating a shared mythology for Badgers Wood.
The project delivered wider benefits beyond the workshops, including strengthened partnerships across arts, healthcare, environmental and community sectors, increased awareness of Badgers Wood as a wellbeing resource, and the retention of exhibition materials for display within the hospital. Informal engagement with local woodland users further demonstrated the value of visible, community-led creative activity in public green spaces.
Living Mythologies established new foundations for future collaboration in the National Forest, demonstrating how gentle, place-based creative practice can support wellbeing, inclusion and belonging.