Exhibition celebrates unique landscape and £5 million scheme
‘Land, Life, Water: the Clyde and Avon Valley Past and Present’ exhibition was opened by Councillor John Ross, Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, in a ceremony at Chatelherault Country Park, last Friday 16 February.
The exhibition and accompanying programme of FREE events, celebrates the ‘picturesque and sublime’ Clyde and Avon Valley and the 70 projects that have taken place to conserve the unique landscape, since 2011, as part of the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP) – one of many UK based, large scale Landscape Partnership schemes supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Councillor John Ross was joined by representatives from CAVLP and associated partnership organisations, including South Lanarkshire Council and curators of the exhibition, CAVLP Heritage, as well as many volunteers.
The ceremony opened with songs performed by the Lanarkshire Songwriters, including songs penned under the Fruits of their Labours project, celebrating the old fruit growing industry in the area. The songs were followed by speeches from CAVLP Programme Manager Kirsten Robb and Councillor John Ross, highlighting the community impact of the 70 CAVLP projects, totalling £5 million.
Curated around the themes of land, life and water, visitors to the multi-media exhibition can discover the story of the landscape through history to the present day, using historical objects, interactive maps, works of art created by local schools and youth groups, and historical paintings.
Alongside historical items on display, including Roman Samian ware, a Bronze Age mortar, agricultural implements, jam jars, and recent finds from ‘Castle’ Qua near Lanark and Black Hill near Kirkmuirhill, visitors will be able to handle objects, such as an apple and honey press, and horse tacks. Watch the video below to find out more about what you can see in the exhibition.
The achievements of the CAVLP programme, set up to celebrate and enhance the area’s landscape and cultural heritage with a range of organisations, cooperatives, community groups, individuals and volunteers, are also showcased. Over 70 projects took place under the CAVLP scheme, delivered by key partners South Lanarkshire Council, North Lanarkshire Council, Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Clydesdale Community Initiatives, New Lanark Trust, Northlight Heritage, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Wildlife Trust, and a range of delivery organisations.
The exhibition reveals the results of historical research and archaeological discoveries, highlights new trails and improved access, shows the work undertaken to conserve and improve the ecology, and celebrates the training, skills development and volunteering which local people have enjoyed through so many successful projects.
A series of FREE hands-on events, workshops, talks and walks are taking place for the duration of the exhibition, as below. More will be announced at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/events, where all booking details will be provided.
- Treasured Remains: Tomb Readers, Cambusnethan, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February, 10am – 4pm. Using digital photography to uncover details on stone carvings with Archaeology Scotland
- Bronze Age Pottery and Celtic Head Fun Workshop, Chatelherault Country Park, Tuesday 20 February; Saturday 3, Saturday 6 and Saturday 17 March, 11am – 1pm and 2 – 4pm
- Introduction to Bike Maintenance, Larkhall and District Volunteer Group, Saturday 24 February, 11am – 2pm
- Willow Tunnel Maintenance Skills, Chatelherault Country Park, Wednesday 21 February, 10:30am – 12:30pm
- The Living Landscapes of Chatelherault walk series, Friday 23 February; Friday 2, Friday 9 and Saturday 17 March, 1 – 3pm
- The Wassail of Larkhall, Quarter Boolin’ Club, Saturday 24 February, 11am – 4pm. Make decorative walking sticks and spring garlands, traditional music and a walk through Chatelherault Country Park, ending in the Applebank Inn, Larkhall
- Symphony for the Land, The Green Bridge, Chatelherault Country Park, Sunday 25 February, 11:30am – 1:30pm. Create your own instruments and noise makers, or just use your voice, to join in with the human symphony
- Arboreal Walk drop-in, Duke’s Monument, Barncluith, Hamilton, Sunday 25 February, 1 – 5pm. Use a map to discover the area including plants and animals, and use your findings to take part in some drawing activities around the fire pit
- Spring Forward Walk, Hamilton, Sunday 25 February, 2 – 3:30pm. Create a swinging ball and join a celebratory walk from the Covan Burn to the Duke’s Monument, Barncluith
- Saturday 3 March, Guided Ride: Larkhall – Chatelherault Country Park, via NCR74, 11am – 2pm
- Thursday 8 March, Lower Nethan Gorge walk with Scottish Wildlife Trust, 10am – 1pm, meet Crossford village Hall. More details to be announced soon at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/events
- Saturday 17 March, Treasured Remains: What lies beneath? Graveyard Geophysics, 10am – 4pm
- Saturday 17 March, Family Fun Day, Hamilton Palace Sports Grounds, 10am – 3pm. Drop-in activities, no booking required. Superheroes bike ride, cycling track, stalls and more
- Sunday 18 March, Family Fun Day, Larkhall Leisure Centre, 10am – 3pm. Drop-in activities, no booking required. Superheroes bike ride, cycling track, stalls and more
The exhibition has been curated by CAVLP Heritage, a project delivered by Northlight Heritage and is supported by Historic Environment Scotland, and Heritage Lottery Fund and South Lanarkshire Council LEADER supported CAVLP.
Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Councillor John Ross says, “I hope as many people as possible take the time to visit this exhibition and appreciate the wide variety of projects the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership have been involved in over the past few years.”
He continues, “As well as the exhibition, there are a number of events taking place across South Lanarkshire which will appeal to people of all ages – there really is something for everyone. I would like to thank the Landscape Partnership for all the hard work they have put in over the past few years to deliver a number of events, projects and community activities which have greatly enhanced the area’s landscape and cultural heritage.”
An online version of the exhibition will be available for those unable to access the exhibition at Chatelherault Visitor Centre, from early March at www.clydeandavonvalley.org/museum
The exhibition is FREE, and will be open daily from Saturday 17 February until Sunday 18 March, 10am - 5pm. For a full list of the exhibition events, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.org/join-in/events