Through the Seasons is a simple invitation to spend time quietly in the green space behind Dudley High Street.

We are curious about this patch of grass, trees, pathways and access roads between the Inhedge and Dudley High Street.

What might we learn about this patch if we spend time in it? How might that inform future ideas and designs for this patch of land?

Ways you can take part

• Bring something to sit on and simply come along, sit and be. You might return to your chosen sit spot on a regular basis.
• Bring something to sit on and collect an observation card from Lorna (in the green space or at CoLab Dudley on the High Street). Spend time observing in the green space.
• You may wish to record and share your observations. You can add them to other contributions in the Observatory at CoLab Dudley and to the online Observatory.
• Share your knowledge and experiences of observation or nature connection approaches to add to a collective resource.
• Share your ideas, dreams and imaginings for this green space.

If it's too wet or windy to be comfortable outside

• We can gather in the Observatory at CoLab Dudley with a warm cuppa. These moments invite time reading, looking at, listening to and reflecting on observations so far. What relationships and patterns are there? What might we focus future observations on?

Hot drinks are available for a suggested donation of 25p each. You may bring your own food or drink if you prefer.

Inspiration

Below is an image from the Permaculture Women's Guild observation module of the Permaculture Design Certificate. In this module the tutor explains: Before we can build ecological gardens and communities, we must first take the time to look deeply into our surroundings and try to see how best to integrate ourselves with the natural ecology. Humans are notorious for their inability and/or unwillingness to look at the natural signs around them, and this tendency is probably how we got in such deep water with the natural environment. As permaculture designers, we eschew blind and compulsive action, and opt for a careful, deliberate process, and the path to that transformation is paved with a mosaic of multisensory observations.