Life’s a Beach

Life’s a Beach – Cleethorpes

Unlocking children’s imaginations, inspiring creativity and connecting kids to nature

Families loved our programme of #birdhouseexplorers activities over half-term, offering a chance to explore the outdoors, connect more to Cleethorpes, learn about wildlife and get creative!

Enjoy our Life’s a Beach videos below, learn as a family about the wildlife in Cleethorpes, then children can get creative with the help of our craft tutorials, with more to be added.

There’s also still time for children to gain their own Arts Award (more info further down)!

Artist James Brunt created beautiful beach art with the help of Cleethorpes families over half term

Life’s a Beach – Cleethorpes, combines a series of activities that positively engage children through both digital and real world activity.

Kirsty from Rhubarb Theatre engaged children and parents in interactive story-telling

 

“What a totally gorgeous experience. Great for the whole family. Thank you!”

Life’s a Beach aims to provide opportunities for quality family time while promoting a deeper connection to this much-loved resort and supporting local businesses, through a varied programme that includes:

• Free access to digital content produced by Lincolnshire Outdoor Learning highlighting Cleethorpes’ wildlife, accompanied by creative making tutorials by artist Kathleen Smith 
• A ‘Covid-safe’ beach ramble led by Dr Sam Griffith of the Coastal and Intertidal Zone Archaeological Network, allowing children and families to discover Cleethorpes’ archaeological heritage, with a chance to spot a number of known ship-wrecks
• The opportunity to contribute to an evolving beach-based work of public art, started by artist James Brunt 
• Outdoor family bubble story-telling sessions of ‘The Snail and the Whale’ among the sand-dunes, by Rhubarb Theatre
• The chance for children aged 5+ to gain the Arts Council England-backed Arts Award, through participating in Life’s a Beach activity and logging their experience

Life’s a Beach also forms part of a national initiative called Back & Fill – a one-off series of locally organised festivals, ‘inspired by the currents of seaside life’.

Back & Fill is a sailing term, for using the advantage of the tide being with you when the wind is not and activity is happening at range of coastal locations across the UK from Cleethorpes to Northern Ireland. The initiative has been purposely coordinated to happen at the end of a tough summer season with local projects supporting artists, independent shops and seaside tourism businesses.

Charlotte Bowen, creative director for Birdhouse, said: “We aim to provide engaging opportunities for families and to inspire children’s creativity. Cleethorpes is well-loved and has so much to offer on top of being a traditional seaside resort.

“Through Life’s a Beach, we’re drawing attention to its natural qualities, while providing creative outdoor and at-home activities that ultimately help deepen children’s connection to their local area and the world around them.

Charlotte continues: “We’re fully on-board with championing Cleethorpes and its merits, while allowing residents and visitors to see the town in a different light while connecting to nature.”

Life’s a Beach – Anderby Creek, Skegness & Seacroft Site of Special Scientific Interest

Life’s a Beach began life in 2020, when we were commissioned by the SOFestival to create work for the people of East Lindsey to enjoy and experience.

This presented a fantastic opportunity for us to help children and families explore the Lincolnshire coastline and learn more about its wildlife and natural habitats.

The series of short videos below were shot on location in Anderby Creek, Skegness and Seacroft SSSI and provide an introduction to the variety of wildlife that make these wonderful locations their home.

Led by Lincolnshire Outdoor Learning, the videos feature outdoors educator Ashley Butterfield as he takes viewers on a journey along the sand-dunes and beaches, making it easy for viewers to follow in his foot-steps when on their own family trip.

Lincolnshire-based artist Kathleen Smith has also created a series of four making and crafting video tutorials, which will support children to make creations at home like gull masks, bird sculptures and hanging decorations, out of found materials.

Charlotte Bowen, creative director for Birdhouse, said:

“We were delighted to participate in the SOfa Festival this year, an on-line version of the SO Festival which is an international festival usually hosted in Skegness and Mablethorpe.

“We decided as a family organisation to offer an educational but fun activity for families and children, helping them to get know their surroundings better, while introducing them to the wildlife and habitats along the coast.

“This particular stretch of coast is internationally significant and our videos aim to help children learn more and understand why.

Charlotte continued: “both Anderby Creek and Skegness are popular visitor destinations and as a result of the pandemic, more people are exploring outdoors, getting ‘back to nature’ and enjoying fresh air and walks.

“With that in mind we feel this is very much a well-being as well as wildlife project, which while highlighting our lovely coast, also gently touches upon environmental concerns and promotes responsible living.

This series was commissioned by SOfa Fest 2020, part of SO Festival which is supported by Arts Council England, East Lindsey District Council, Passage Festival, Helsingør Teater, and Without Walls.