Immersive Art Showcases Awe and Wonder of 'Birds on the Edge' – Bridget Bailey

Bridget Bailey leading a Birds on the Edge exhibition workshop. © Olivia Brabbs (2024)

Artist Bridget Bailey writes about her immersive approach to bringing to life the awe and wonder of nature for the Birds on the Edge project.

Earlier this year, I was invited to participate in the Birds on the Edge exhibition, a project led by the North York Moors Trust that aims to help both nature and people thrive. From creating key habitats for endangered birds like the turtle dove, to offering young people opportunities to connect with nature and develop creative skills, the project’s vision resonated with me deeply.

Being part of this exhibition was an incredible experience. On a brisk April day, I joined the project team and other artists in the North York Moors National Park to witness their conservation work firsthand. This inspired me to create artwork that reflects the awe I feel for the skill and ingenuity of birds, and how they interact with their habitats. I wanted my work to inspire others to notice and appreciate these environments as well. Seeing how the project engages young people through interactive and sensory experiences, I made it my goal for my art and residency to encourage people to connect physically with nature—through materials, art, and making.

Pond at Newton-on-Rawcliffe restored by the Birds on the Edge project. © James Metcalfe (2024)

Creating the Nestscape Artwork

For my artwork, Nestscape, I used colours and textures from the landscape to show the change of seasons, incorporating delicate flora and fauna. The nest was created using hat-making techniques from my 20 years as a milliner, which felt like a natural fit because, much like birds, I was repurposing materials. The idea was to mirror how birds build their nests with what they find, turning everyday items into something intricate and beautiful. I wanted to highlight the creativity and adaptability of birds, and how they use their surroundings to survive and thrive.

Bridget Bailey with Nestscape. © Daisy Perkins (2024)

The Interactive Nature Table Display

For the exhibition, I developed a nature table display that ran as a three-day residency. It was an immersive part of the Nestscape installation, where I displayed real birds’ nests alongside the materials and processes I used to create my nest artwork. Visitors were fascinated by the real nests, and the table sparked many wonderful conversations. People shared stories about a blackbird trying to build a nest on a car wheel, or a robin that lined its nest with strands of a woman’s hair. A photographer showed me an incredible picture of a gannet colony where every nest was made from plastic bits from fishermen’s nets. The table helped people connect with nature in a new way, unlocking memories and opening up discussion about the challenges birds face, from habitat loss to plastic pollution.

Children and adults handled the materials I used in the artwork. I spoke of how both birds and people have learnt to work with natural fibres, like flax and hemp. It was rewarding to see how the use of materials and ingenuity of a real nest could inspire people to think about art beyond traditional mediums like drawing or painting.

Bridget Bailey Nature Table. © Davy Major (2024)

Drop-In Feather Workshops

During the exhibition, I ran two drop-in feather workshops. Participants cut feathers into shapes mimicking grasses, and it was fascinating to see how the angle of each cut created different forms. This activity helped people notice the fine grain of the feathers and the tiny barbs that hold them together. We discussed how birds shed their feathers and how finding them can be a simple but special way to connect with nature. Families told me they would look out for feathers on their walks, which made me feel like we’d sparked a lasting connection.

Nest-Making Outdoors

One of the most hands-on parts of the project was the outdoor nest-making session. I set up a display of real birds' nests to inspire people to build their own using natural materials from around Danby Lodge National Park Centre. It was such a tactile experience—breaking sticks, curling grasses, and shredding fluff from seed heads. Despite the rain, participants, including one as young as four, dove into the activity.

Nature sparked conversations and memories. A midwife from the USA remarked on how egg shapes relate to the aerodynamic body shapes of different birds. Another woman shared her memories of watching weaver birds build nests in her garden in India. These personal stories added depth to the workshop, making it meaningful for all involved.

Birds on the Edge allowed me to connect with people in a profound way, encouraging them to notice the beauty and ingenuity of birds, and reflect on how we share the world with them. Through my artwork and workshops, I hope I’ve helped others see nature more closely, and perhaps find new ways to appreciate the wonder, fragility, and resilience of the natural world around them – from the North York Moors National Park to their own back garden. My experience during the residency left me in no doubt how connecting with nature through creative and immersive means benefits health and wellbeing, forges commonality between people and nature and empowers people to take action to protect it.

Ends.

Coverage: Artist Bridget Bailey: Immersive Art Inspired By Nature - MagNorth - 14/10/2024

Notes:

Birds on the Edge is a four-year National Lottery Heritage Funded project led by the North York Moors Trust in partnership with the North York Moors National Park, ARCADE, Howardian Hills National Landscape, North Yorkshire Council, Forestry England, and Yorkshire Water. The Woodsmith Foundation provided further funding for youth engagement in 2024.

The project is works with communities, farmers and land managers to create or restore habitat such as ponds, drinking pools and wildflower plots to support Turtle Dove, Yellowhammer, Redstart and Song Thrush. The project also connects young people with nature through art, education and recreation activities to support their health, wellbeing and development.