Image with kind permission of Hampshire Record Office
One of the events at this year’s BU Festival of Learning will highlight the research partnership between BU and the RSPB. For over two years members of the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences have been working with Tom Clarke from the RSPB on various projects that explore how accessing the natural environment can improve personal health and wellbeing.
The Festival of Learning event that is being developed in partnership with the RSPB will focus upon one stretch of the River Stour between Muscliff and Throop Mill. An exhibition, at Bournemouth Council’s new Kingfisher Barn Visitor Centre, will show how previous generations have used the area. It is hoped that through this historical narrative members of the public who visit the event will be encouraged to think about how they could enjoy this beautiful rural stretch of the river with family and friends in the future. There will also be cultural heritage activities to try.
At present the project team are gathering information on the cultural heritage of the area. This has involved searching local archives as well as Hampshire Record Office, to find information about those who have lived, worked and had fun in and by the River. The Daily Echo is also supporting the search by including an article asking any members of the public with memories of the area to send them in – and we know there are lots of people with childhood links to the location following a number of Facebook posts to members of the project team. May be colleagues or students at BU have their own memories they’d like to share – we’d love to hear them!