Pupils at St Bede’s Primary School in Weaverham rehearsed and performed an entire play in the course of a single day last week as part of Animate! an innovative performance project from the Saltscape Landscape Partnership. 

Using music, dance and drama, the play’s script takes a fun and light-hearted look at all things salt-related in Cheshire.  Pupils take on the role of nature detectives looking at how the salt came to be here in the first place and  how it has affected the landscape and brought industry and new communities here.  There’s a catwalk parade of plants, insects, birds and animals who demonstrate the rich variety of wildlife which relies on these important habitats. 

Nicole Morris who leads the project and wrote the plays script said,  “It’s so  great to see the positive impact we’ve made for local children as they connect to their culture, heritage and local landscape.  They’re learning new skills and actively sharing their learning with others through performance.  Performing in front of their peers has provided a great sense of achievement for young people and feedback from teaching staff has been fantastic!”.

Saltscape has run these workshops in primary schools throughout Middlewich, Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.

Photos : Nick Jones