people walking in a line with the person at the front wearing a hat and holding a flag
woodland
white cow made from paper and sticks glowing at night time

Glow Badbury

It’s night time on an unseasonably warm Friday in September. For months, 40 artists and over 1000 local children and adults have been working together, learning, sharing and creating. We're at Badbury Rings, a Celtic hillfort now managed by the National Trust, and this epic project is being led by the remarkably talented company, Emerald Ant.

Community Involvement

The local community played a pivotal role in shaping the project from its inception. Up to 40 Dorset artists, employed by Emerald Ant, collaborated with the community to create four spectacular artworks that make up the 'Glow Badbury' trail.

Lead artist Sarah Butterworth shared, “the end result was spectacular and so special for the community. Despite challenges such as installing large artworks on a scheduled monument and working around endangered species of bats, with the help of Kingston Lacy’s ranger team, we succeeded.”

Fundamental to the success of Glow Badbury were the staff and over 1000 pupils from various schools, including Pamphill First School, Witchampton First School, Allenbourn Middle School, St Michael’s Middle School, Yewstock School, and adults at Stour Connect Day Centre.

Trail Highlights:

  1. Live Performance by Paper Cinema: The trail includes a live performance titled 'Furrows in the Land,' created by Year 6 and 7 children at Allenbourn Middle School in collaboration with artist Nic Rawling.

  2. The Woodland Cathedral: This surround film experience in an oak woodland illustrates the natural history of the Rings. Animated puppets created by students, guided by artist Sarah Butterworth, and a film by Tom Hughes are accompanied by a special soundscape.

  3. Almost Forgotten, the Story of the Clubmen: A live performance inspired by the gathering of 4000 Clubmen on Badbury Rings in 1645. Wimborne Community Theatre and Millstream Theatre, joined by a new WCT choir and local musicians, bring this historical protest against the Civil War to life.

  4. Star Gazing: A live solo violin improvisation set in the centre of the Rings, created by Ellen Marsden with Year 5 pupils from Allenbourn Middle School, Baroque violinist Emma-Marie Kabanova, and sound engineer Chris Caton. Inspired by Vivaldi’s ‘Autumn.’

Star Gazing woman holding umbrella
Star Gazing woman playing violin
Live Performance by Paper Cinema:
Live Performance by Paper Cinema:
Almost Forgotten, the Story of the Clubmen
The Woodland Cathedral
The Woodland Cathedral: puppets
Almost Forgotten, the Story of the Clubmen
Almost Forgotten, the Story of the Clubmen

Lanterns and Flags

Dotted along the trail are lanterns and flags crafted by pupils at Pamphill and Witchampton First Schools, and Yewstock School. Local families have also contributed lanterns from Summer Workshops, all inspired by the Celtic history of the Rings.

Standing flags
paper lantern
paper lantern music themed
paper lantern nature themed
Paper lantern viking hat

Testimonials

“...We liked the puppetry, art and music in the woods with the sound accompaniment, but we especially loved the Woodland cathedral with the beautiful moving images and the children’s' voices singing...”

“… something so many children will remember for their whole lives, it was wonderful to see the audience feeling a part of the whole creation of the work.” 

Find out more:

Credits:

Lead: Emerald Ant

Creatives: Sarah Butterworth, Thomas Hughes, Heidi Steller, Holly Miller, Wimborne Community Theatre, Millstream Theatre, the Quarterjacks of Wimborne, WCT choir, The Paper Cinema, Ellen Marsden, Chris Caton, Emma Marie Kabanova, Karen Wimhurst, Jane Silver-Corren, Adrian Newton.

Partners: National Trust Kingston Lacy

Funders: National Lottery Heritage Fund, the National Trust, Dorset Council