Ever since moving here, coming up to 14 years, I’ve been in love with our river Bollin. I moved here from an area in the Netherlands where fast flowing small rivers are not common. So despite being a nature lover my entire life, the whole vibe and ecologie around the Bollin is new and exciting to me. The sculptures in the phone boxes are my interpretation, a metaphor, for this river and the whole ecosystem surrounding it. We should want to keep it healthy for our children, with an eye on the future. After all, it’s Our River!
OUR RIVER
It’s been a lot of fun to have to work towards the very specific and confined measurements and limitations of these phone boxes. And I’m honoured to have been one of the artists asked to participate. I have a fine art degree in Sculpting as well as teaching. As a sculptor my medium is not confined to one choice, I vary the materials I work with, depending on what the subject requires. The works within these phone boxes are made with galvanised thatching wire, and a few bits of thread and paint.
In the river
The River Bollin rises in the foothills of the Pennines and flows through Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Hale, Bowdon and Dunham and as with the River Mersey eventually hits the Manchester Ship canal about 30 miles from its sources.
Because of where I live in Macclesfield, I’m most familiar the River Bollin Riverside Park and the bits of the river popping up in Macc town centre. Walking along the river it’s amazing to see the intricate ecosystem in and around a fast flowing river.
I’ve seen big brown trouts lazying under bridges and catching flies on the surface. Trouts naturally thrive in flowing rivers but it makes you wonder how anything else manages to hold on. I’ve observed dippers hunting from their rock perches and flying under water, and been fascinated by big rafts of floating white flowers. I later found out that the floating white flowers are related to a buttercup! The bright green floats in turn create steady perches for a variety of damselflies and dragonflies. Luckily the frogs and toads have their own standing water pools nearby, because the tadpoles would struggle in the stream.
Up above
I’ve mentioned the shy dipper already, but the array of birds to be spotted is amazing. You can walk a circular 7km walk starting from the car park (or you can make your way further to Prestbury or beyond).
I challenge you to visit the river valley without seeing the resident heron. Kingfishers are often a magnificent streak of blue, though much harder to photograph than the heron.
The bright red of the male bullfinches, the hammering noise of woodpeckers, the rustle of a running treecreeper or wren, the angry accusing tweets of a robin, the little dance of a grey wagtail, and many more. They all add to the experience. Sitting down near the water will show the tiny fliers that otherwise go unnoticed, the damselflies and the dragonflies, the bumblebees and butterflies. You will see species you don’t see in gardens that often.
Up above
I’ve mentioned the shy dipper already, but the array of birds to be spotted is amazing. You can walk a circular 7km walk starting from the car park (or you can make your way further to Prestbury or beyond).
I challenge you to visit the river valley without seeing the resident heron. Kingfishers are often a magnificent streak of blue, though much harder to photograph than the heron.
The bright red of the male bullfinches, the hammering noise of woodpeckers, the rustle of a running treecreeper or wren, the angry accusing tweets of a robin, the little dance of a grey wagtail, and many more. They all add to the experience. Sitting down near the water will show the tiny fliers that otherwise go unnoticed, the damselflies and the dragonflies, the bumblebees and butterflies. You will see species you don’t see in gardens that often.
Along the banks
At the Riverpark the bollin is encouraged to behave naturally throughout the year. The valley functions as a natural flood plane, and because of the seasons with snow and rain and droughts, it will change its course and meander slightly different year after year. However it will need help every so often because of unexpected erosion. The Cheshire east rangers work hard with the help of an army of volunteers to shore up the banks where needed with willow branches. They maintain the paths and bridges, and build fences where greenery needs protection from walkers and for instance grazing.
Depending on what time of the year you walk through the park, you will come across the Longhorn cattle. They help to manage the landscape, and have made a huge positive impact. Grazing encourages wildflowers by reducing course grasses and their hooves will make more natural indents in the landscape than mechanical mowing will. Last year I even found a spotted orchid in the valley, I was so excited. The nooks and crannies that are made by the hooves give shelter to all sorts of plants germinating like the soft pink cuckoo flower, who in turn is the main food plant for the caterpillar of the orange tip butterfly.
TIME TO CONSERVE
Unfortunately as well as the beauty and enjoyment the river brings, it’s also been the subject of a few separate pollution events which bring sadness to many. Some of them have been investigated and we’ve been reassured that changes have been made. But it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence to see unnatural foam a few feet high, or discoloured water, dead fish or warnings not to let your dog swim or drink the water. How many times do we expect the river to recover from yet another incident? For instance I’ve not seen the trouts on recent walks at all. Of course everyone will say that is obvious and common sense, but why does it keep happening?
Friends of the river Bollin on facebook they are a good group to stay informed and are on the ball with regards to reporting.
Another problem that our wildlife’s diversity faces is ‘invasive species’. These are beautiful in their own right of course, but often outcompete the local species. The grey squirrel is here to stay and difficult to discourage, but we can all help with curbing the spread of Himalayan balsam. This beautiful (and edible!) plant uses our railway and river network to spread. Keep an eye open for the enjoyable “balsam bashing” call-outs in local groups. It’s a fun way to meet likeminded people.
The gallery
As I’ve been wandering around the river, lots of things have caught my eye. I’ve share a large selection of the images I have taken over the years for you to look through.
If you have seen or photographed anything you are proud of, or is unusual and you want it featured here, just email me and i’ll add it to the gallery.
VIEW THE GALLERY
FUN ACTIVITIES
Why not challenge friends and family to spot as much as they can with our downloadable Bollin Bingo sheets?
Or create your very own master piece with my very own Bollin inspired colouring in sheets.
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