‘Future fields’ of poppies could grow in gardens and flower beds across Nottinghamshire as a lasting legacy from a unique art exhibition.

Nottinghamshire County Council is working with around 10,000 people as part of its ‘Future Fields’ Big Draw challenge this month linking to the commemorations for World War One.

Groups, organisations and schools around the county are producing and decorating poppy seed balls for an exhibition at Rufford Craft Centre, at Rufford Abbey Country Park, entitled ‘Future Fields: Remembering the past, looking to the future’, taking place during October until November 16.

Groups involved will be invited to take some of the poppy seed balls away after the exhibition, and crumble and scatter them in their gardens or flower beds.

It is hoped the seeds will flower in future years generating colourful clusters of poppies, internationally recognised as a symbol of remembrance.

The poppy seed balls will be biodegradable as a mixture of clay, soil and seeds with water and then decorated with drawings, and markings into mini seed head sculptures. The idea was thought up by the county council’s Arts Service. Separately, groups are also being invited to draw and produce poppy flowers in a range of different materials for the exhibition, with many public workshops happening in county libraries. Some of the ‘Future Fields’ work will be displayed at West Bridgford, Mansfield and Worksop Libraries from November 2014 to February 2015.

Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This is very creative project where the county council is engaging with a large number of schools and organisations which will produce not only a wonderful exhibition, but a poignant and lasting legacy when the poppy seeds are sown back in people’s communities next year.”

As part of the exhibition, children and families can take part in free Big Draw workshops at Rufford Craft Centre, during October half term between October 25 and November 2, from 11am to 4pm to add to the exhibits. People who take part will work with a number of professional artists.

The county council is building on its strong national reputation for being a leading light with the Big Draw campaign. The Big Draw is organised nationally by the Campaign for Drawing, engaging communities in creative arts and raise the profile of drawing.

Around 6,500 people in Nottinghamshire took part in The Big Draw organised by the Campaign for Drawing in 2013 and Nottinghamshire County Council’s Arts Development Service won an awards from the organisers for its outstanding contribution to get so many people involved in both 2012 and 2013.

As part of the Big Draw success, the Arts Development Service trains up people in a wide variety of settings including in care homes, foster homes, libraries and other locations to use drawing as a tool for engagement and exploration and to boost their skills.
For more details on the Future Fields exhibition visit: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/whatson
or www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/artsnews