Client: The Wildlife Trust, Bucks, Berks and Oxfordshire
Venue: College Lake, Tring
Date: April 2017
A carved wooden ammonite at College Lake. Very much part of the Wildlife Trust’s Geology Rocks day
Project: In celebration of the new geology interpretation at College Lake, Jane’s storytelling was part of the day’s activities on offer for the Wildlife Trust’s “Geology Rocks” event. Based in the Outlook Inn,
Jane told tales set in the Cretaceous sea, Pleistocene savannah, and present day nature reserve.
Client: Gravenhurst Gallop Committee
Venue: Gravenhurst, Bedfordshire
Date: 2012 – present
Getting ready for the Gravenhurst’s annual dragon sacrifice
Project Description: Dragon Lantern Procession. After the closure of the village pub – The Green Dragon, Jane has been determined to keep alive the story of the village dragon. As part of the annual Gravenhurst bonfire night celebrations Jane leads a dragon lantern procession through the village to the recreation ground to light the bonfire. The celebrations include storytelling, lantern making and each year with help from friend and local artist Cecilia Gatehouse, the creation of a large withie dragon lantern.
“A big thank you to Jane. The dragon lantern was fantastic and the children certainly enjoyed roaring their approval.” Chairperson Gravenhurst Gallop Committee
Client : Jordans Mill
Venue: Jordans Mill, Broom, Bedfordshire
Date started: 2015
The Pumpkin Prowl at Jordan’s Mill
Project Description: At Jordans Mill Jane’s storytelling became a regular feature of 2015. Storytelling walks for the Easter Holidays and the Pumpkin Prowl in October; Winter Stories and Festive Tales for the Christmas Fayre. Wassledine are also involved with willow workshops and creations in the garden and grounds.
For more examples of countryside events, click here
Project: Aragon Day storytelling
Venue: Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire
Client: Aragon Day Committee
Date: July 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013
Description: As part of the town’s celebration of its Tudor history Jane’s storytelling has been a regular feature of Aragon Day. Children and adults have enjoyed stories of kings and queens, heard tales from the royal hunting forest and discovered the secret of stone soup.
Project: Twilight Walk & Tales From The Dark Wood
Venue: Campton Woods, Bedfordshire
Client: Central Bedfordshire Council
Date: October 2012, November 2013 & 2014
Description: For a third year Jane worked with the countryside team to lead families on another woodland adventure in the woods at dusk. There were riddles to solve, wolves, wise men and fools to meet in the stories and fireside tales.
Project: Working Woodland Centre Open Day
Venue: Maulden Woods, Bedfordshire
Client: The Greensand Trust
Date: May 2014
Description: Both Jane and Guy were invited along to the open day to celebrate local woodlands. While Guy was busy demonstrating hurdle making, Jane was entertaining families with woodland tales at the Centre before heading off into the trees on a storytelling walk.
Project: Wild Woods Day
Venue: Northaw Great Wood, Hertfordshire
Client: Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Date: November 2012 and October 2013
A special woodland day in Hertfordshire
Description: Jane was invited back for a second time as the storyteller for this family day in Northaw Great Wood. What better place could there be to tell a tale than in an ancient autumnal woodland setting? Animal and tree stories were told with the odd tale or two of hidden treasure and Jack’s adventures.
“Thanks again for coming along, it was a fantastic day and we had a lot of great feedback. My best friend’s daughters particularly loved your stories!” South Herts Woods Living Landscape Officer
Project: Halloween Fayre
Venue: Harlington Village Hall, Bedfordshire
Client: Harlington Village Hall Committee
Date: October 2010, 2011, 2013
Jane with the Harlington spooks
Description: The moon, bats, owls, the occasional witch, fox and fire tales feature in Jane’s stories for Halloween.
“Sat in an “enchanted wood” constructed on our village hall stage; the storyteller held children and adults alike enthralled at her tales. We had planned for a story every half hour to new groups of listeners each time. However, so popular was she that children wouldn’t leave the wood and the storyteller was kept constantly busy. In this “high tech” world our children inhabit, it is wonderful that they can still enjoy the same as our late ancestors did, sitting with rapt attention to the story teller. Jane is certainly the first person we asked back for our next year’s village hall fayre.” Harlington Village Hall Committee
Project: Fantastic Fens Day
Venue: Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights
Client: The Wildlife Trust BCN
Date: June 2013
Sprinkling a little magic
Description: Wassledine was pleased to be part of the Fantastic Fens Day. Both Jane and Guy went along. Jane was entertaining families with wild tales and animal stories while Guy was kept very busy encouraging children and their parents to have a go at willow weaving.
“Thank you, really good feedback about you both.” Great Fen Education and Community Manager
Project: Welwyn Tree Festival
Venue: Welwyn Garden City
Client: Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Date: September 2012
Description: Under the setting of a beautiful horse chestnut tree Jane entertained children with tree tales and woodland stories.
Project: Wild About Wetlands
Venue: Stockers Lake, Hertfordshire
Organisation: Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Date: September 2012
Description: The Wildlife Trust commissioned Jane to tell stories connected to the wildlife and history of the reserve. Old Frank the heron, dragonflies and bats featured in the stories as well as Jane’s time traveller’s watch.
Project: Run Wild
Venue: Ampthill Park, Bedfordshire
Client: The Greensand Trust
Date: August 2012
A huge web in Ampthill Park
Description: Jane ran a “webs and wands” natural art activity for this event. Children collected natural materials form the park and wrote messages to weave into the giant web, then were shown how to make willow wands
Project: Run Wild
Venue: Baulk Wood, Bedfordshire
Client: Central Bedfordshire Council
Date: July 2012 & 2013
Description: Wooden animal sculptures provided the inspiration for Jane to create a specially commissioned story for the event. The storytelling sessions were such a popular addition to the day’s activities that Jane was invited back for a second year.
Project: Half Term Storytelling
Venue: The glasshouse, RHS Wisley Gardens, Surrey
Client: The Royal Horticultural Society
Date: October 2012
Description: “Wild Woodlands” was the theme for storytelling at Wisley. Audiences of up to 100 people enjoyed listening to and joining in with Jane’s stories.
Project: Half Term Storytelling Week
Venue: Chilterns Gateway Centre, Bedfordshire
Client: The National Trust
Date: February 2012
Description: Jane was one of storytellers employed for the week’s events at Dunstable Downs. Jane’s treasure box was opened up to engage children in storytelling.
Project: Who’s afraid of the Dark?
Venue: Randalls Farm Environmental Education Centre, Bedfordshire
Client: Beds, Cambs and Northants Wildlife Trust
Date: August 2011
Who’s afraid of the dark?
Description: At the beginning of this evening family event Jane told stories of the moon, bats and owls as people gathered in the woodland clearing at dusk.
“The woodland looked magical with the lanterns and fire and we really enjoyed your wildlife stories, absolutely amazing. Your stories really set the atmosphere for the evening and were a highlight for many people. We were so inspired by your storytelling that we started talking about training.” Bedfordshire Environmental Education Service Manager