On the 4th of October I attended the opening night of the Save Middlewick Exhibition at Colchester LEAF Community Centre.
On arrival, I was delighted at the buzz of conversation filling the small space with a mix of young and old attendees.
Pictures depicting the history and heritage of the site and its wildlife alongside leaf rubbings greeted me in the café area.
This contrast of childish wonder with an academic approach to the history of the site truly shows the intergenerational links and mix of art, science and nature that make this site important.
While browsing, a soundscape of birdsong recorded at the Wick before dawn in May 2024 plays, creating an immersive and sensory experience similar to an actual visit.
There are artworks from 20 artists to admire, many accompanied by stories from the Wick showcasing its importance.
I spoke to one of the artists (Oliver Dhakal) who spent 2 months compiling the exhibition, and whose artwork was inspired by Nightingale walks that the campaign ran.
He spoke passionately about the community that surrounds Middlewick and how this exhibition has bought people together.
Andrew Neil, a macro photographer whose Middlewick connection stems back to childhood, also made a passionate speech as part of this opening night.
One of his earliest memories was finding a Devil's Coach Horse beetle, curled like a scorpion, which catalysed his lifetime interest in insects.
He had been taking pictures years before the campaign, so this exhibition allowed him to show his support for the site and love of macro photography - I was inspired to hear from someone so intimately connected to the area.
I also spoke to key members of the campaign Glyn Evans and Wayne Baker who really appreciate the power of artwork to highlight issues.
For example, some photographs were displayed so you could see many species at once allowing a striking appreciation for the impacts of habitat destruction.
Recently there was destruction of around 1 Hectare of woodland margins (key habitat for nightingales), but they were keen to stress that the area is still at an intervention point, making the campaign vital.
If unsuccessful the effects of destruction will be long term - as Glyn emphasised:
We cannot lose more than one lung.
The campaign started in 2016 in response to Colchester Borough Council’s decision to include the site within the Local Plan.
The site includes specialised and rare acid grassland habitat hosting incredible biodiversity, including the UK’s second best population of Red Listed Nightingales.
It is also a haven for the local community as a big accessible green space, great for both mental and physical health.
If you would like to find out more or join the campaign visit savemiddlewick.org.uk
I encourage you to visit this celebration through inspiring local artists of a very valuable area.
The exhibition runs until 26th of October on Fridays and Saturdays, 12pm - 3pm at Colchester LEAF: Climate Community Centre, 27-28 Priory walk (opposite Sainsbury’s), Colchester, CO1 1LG.
