Borderland Voices, arts for health and well-being, gained the Queen’s Award for Voluntary
Service in 2017. Since 2020 they’ve had a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund
(NLHF) to explore creatively the history in this area of the Women’s Land Army. During both World Wars women volunteered, then were conscripted to work in agriculture,
horticulture and forestry.
Britain needed their heroic efforts, with so many men away fighting. The contribution of the Women’s Land Army was eventually marked in 2014, when a cast bronze of a Land Girl and a Lumber Jill, by local sculptor Denise Dutton, was unveiled at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
Despite the pandemic, they have been working over the past 2 years to unearth local stories, photos and mementos; and to understand what life was like for these young women – far from home, doing often dangerous jobs, in perilous times.
As part of the project, they want to engage with young people’s creativity. This could be art, writing, research or talking to senior members of the community. They also have staff who can come and introduce the idea, with a slide presentation and even Land Girl uniforms. They can also provide community writers and artists to work with your school or group.
If you’re interested, please contact Mrs Andy Collins, Borderland Voices Coordinator.
andy@borderlandvoices.org.uk 01538 528708 or 07760 138395
