Culture And Memory

Thriving with the seasons

Our project will reconnect residents of Blackburn and Darwen with seasonal and sustainable living practices rooted in our shared cultural heritage. We will explore and preserve knowledge around local seasonal food-pre processed food which we now see, natural remedies, and community rituals aligned with the rhythms of nature. Across 62 workshops, we’ll engage around 670 participants, many living in terraced housing with little access to green space, through hands on sessions on growing food in backyards, making natural remedies, and exploring seasonal traditions. Participants will take part in storytelling, intergenerational learning, and reflective nature based practices like mindfulness. By combining heritage and food growing skills with wellbeing activities, we aim to foster a sense of place, identity, and community resilience. The project will culminate in a public exhibition showcasing participants' stories, photographs, recipes, and back yard projects, helping ensure traditional knowledge is celebrated and carried forward as a living resource.