| Sacred Yew – The Ancient Roots of Beltingham
by Roe Baker
The Sacred Yew project is a collaborative project between Volunteering
Tynedale and local people. Local writer Pam Grant had the idea
of pairing visually impaired people with sighted volunteers in
a poetry and prose written and recorded project based on their
perceptions and feelings for the Ancient Yew Tree that stands
in the Beltingham church yard and the sacred space around it.
This will lead to a published booklet and audio CD in association
with the Right to Read Campaign containing the poetry and prose
together with local history and a section on dowsing and archery.
Historically Yew Trees were planted in sacred locations, the
Yews in Beltingham could date back to Druid times and it has been
suggested that St Cuthbert himself may have preached under the
Yew or even perhaps planted it. It is thought that cuttings from
Sacred Yews were taken to different sites all over the world,
could the Yew at Beltingham be one of these? National Yew Tree
expert Paul Greenwood is very supportive of the project and has
helped with historical information and contacts for DNA testing.
Respected local horticulturalist/environmentalist Libby Scott
has taken cuttings from the Yew which have been sent over to Germany
for DNA analysis, it is hoped this will in time establish the
origin of the Yew. Currently Dr Monika Konnert a plant DNA expert
in Germany is testing the samples to establish whether the three
yews in the church yard are related or come from different parentage.
All exciting stuff!
Mandi Harris volunteer administrator on the project organised
a dowsing day in March 2006 at the church and tree at which four
members of the British Society of Dowsers were present and seven
volunteers. This dowsing had remarkable results suggesting an
ancient building probably wooden standing six feet under the current
site of the church, a plan of the building dimensions is being
drawn up. Dowsers also tried to establish the age of the Yew,
which drew varied results ranging between 1300 and 2400 years
old. A dowsing workshop for the visually impaired is planned as
part of the project, experienced dowsers don't always work with
rods and pendulums, many work simply using their hands with remarkable
results.
The project will also involve an archery element, yew is traditionally
used in the making of bows and arrows and there are significant
arrow head sharpening marks on the church walls. Henshaw first
school has kindly agreed to take part in the project and archery
workshops and it is hoped that the children will make illustrations
for the book.
A book launch in connection with the Right to Read Campaign is
planned for the libraries together with a summer evening concert
in the Beltingham Church supported by international conservationist
David Bellamy and renowned longbow expert Robert Hardy.
This is a remarkable project with so many different dimensions
in which people can become involved. The historical aspect of
the tree, church and place, archaeology, written word and artistic
expression, dowsing, archery, a linking and building of relationships
between sighted and visually impaired volunteers, music, recording
and publishing to name but a few.
Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the project
to work with visually impaired participants producing poetry and
prose, with both dowsing and archery workshops.
A sponsored walk to raise awareness of Visual Impairment and
to raise funds for the project whilst awaiting decisions on funding
applications was organised by Volunteering Tynedale on 13th May
06. Since then confirmation has been received that the project’s
application for funding has been successful with particlular help
from the Community Foundation.
Our current thinking is that proceeds from the sale of the book
will go to the local Hexham Visually Impaired Craft Group for
the Visually Impaired.
About Volunteering Tynedale
Funding for the project was sought for this project through Volunteering
Tynedale.
Volunteering Tynedale is an independent local volunteering development
agency providing support, guidance, advice and practical assistance
to voluntary / community organisations and individual volunteers
throughout Tynedale. One of our six core functions is to develop
volunteering opportunities. We work in close partnership with
statutory, voluntary and private sector agencies as well as community
groups and faith groups to develop local volunteering opportunities.
We understand the potential offered by the local communities and
work with them to realise this potential. We will target specific
groups, which face barriers to volunteering. We work creatively
to develop imaginative, non-formal opportunities for potential
volunteers.
Brief Overview of the Project and Planned Activities
A creative writing project with visually impaired participants
partnered with sighted volunteers, producing poetry and prose
based on the ancient yew tree in Beltingham churchyard. Work will
be collated into a booklet form with illustrations by local first
school children. An audio tape / CD with music and readings will
also be recorded in association with the ‘Right to Read
Campaign.’
We will hold archaeological dowsing workshops for the visually
impaired participants and volunteers to discover more about the
past history of tree and place and archery workshops with local
first school children to demonstrate the yew wood bows and arrows
so influential in English history. There will be a concert of
folk music and readings to celebrate the completion of the booklet,
the hard work and creativity of participants and the yew trees
place in local history.
Need within the community and the difference this project
will make.
This project has been initiated by local people and is led and
run by volunteers. It involves the local school, parish, visually
impaired craft group and sighted volunteers. The local newspaper
is anxious to have continued coverage of the project which they
deem to be of great local interest.
This very rural area offers volunteers and the disabled few strong
locally based projects focussing on local history, creativity
and heritage. This project links the visually impaired, volunteers
and local children in the production of a beautifully crafted
publication for the whole community.
Benefit to specific groups and to the community as a whole
By encouraging marginalized visually impaired groups to involve
in a supported creative project alongside sighted volunteers.
There will undoubtedly be an increase in skills and experience
in the written poetry and prose and dowsing project leading to
publication. This in turn will build the confidence and self esteem
of a group excluded both through rural isolation and disability.
Volunteers will also benefit from learning new skills and working
alongside the visually impaired these new skills will lead to
improved opportunities in the future. All will benefit from the
publication and the concert celebrating the end of the project.
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