The first season of Armchair Walks invited architects, artists, naturalists and landscape designers to consider the landscapes of Barrow-in-Furness through the lenses of civic space, health and wellbeing, biodiversity, usership, geology, climate crisis and utopias.
As part of Art Gene’s Extreme Views residency programme Owen developed Armchair Walks, a series of online and in-person events around civic green spaces in Barrow-in-Furness. Season 1 took place online in the Summer of 2020 in the midst of the global pandemic, prompting a rethinking of community engagement events. Armchair Walks consisted of a series of three virtual walks, through the manicured landscape of Barrow Park, a Green Corridor on the site of the Old Grammar School, and an unused suburban green space at Lesh Lane. Topics discussed included the history of urban landscapes and utopias, whether civic spaces can act as a kind of neo-commons, wellbeing and health issues related to green pockets, and the protection of green corridors and biodiversity.
Chapter 1
Barrow Park
The first walk will focus on civic space, the history and significance of parks, urban landscapes and utopias, as well as the role of civic spaces in the time of COVID-19 and climate crisis. Are these civic spaces a kind of neo-commons, a crucial space to deal with issues of wellbeing and health as well as green pockets which help capture carbon? Speakers include architect Charlie Mackeith, naturalist Pete Burton and lecturer and strategist Daisy Froud.
Recording of Armchair Walk - Chapter 1: Barrow Park
Chapter 2
Green Corridor
This chapter focuses on the possibilities of the site from a biodiversity and usership perspective, looking at what grows there now, and its geological history as part of the outwash channel. This site is mixed use but is largely a blank canvas, in need of protection as a significant green corridor and public space. Speakers include artist and producer Melissa Appleton, naturalist Pete Burton and ecological designer and sustainable food specialist Vincent Walsh.
Recording of Armchair Walk - Chapter 2: Green Corridor
Chapter 3
Lesh Lane
The final site is a suburban green space in the midst of a post-war housing landscape. The site could be identified as ‘SLOP’ (Space Left Over After Planning), and has been earmarked for future development. The site is largely unused by the homes surrounding it, without desire lines or activities taking place. However this site contains a natural wetland which could support a range species and flora and fauna due to the clay content in the soil. Speakers include landscape designer John Little, naturalist Pete Burton, community-led designer Andre Reid and artists and Co-Directors at Art Gene Stuart Bastik and Maddi Nicholson.
Recording of Armchair Walk - Chapter 3: Lesh Lane