Community Heritage

Seven Lochs: A History Shaped by Water

Seven Lochs: A History Shaped by Water was designed by Seven Lochs Wetland Park in partnership with local communities as part of Visit Scotland's Year of Coasts of Waters. It was supported by Historic Environment Scotland and the National Heritage Lottery Fund.

The project explored how the inland water of the Seven Lochs Wetland Park has attracted and supported human habitation for over 10,000 years. Through a series of activities, five community groups explored an historic period or theme illustrated by a heritage collection or archaeological site(s) discovered within the park. Their findings were brought together to create engaging online interpretation that tells the watery history of the Seven Lochs.

Explore the stories of the park here: www.historyshapedbywater.org

The Water Cycle by Sunnyside Primary

Sunnyside Primary, P6 Polar Explorers looked at the importance of the water cycle in supporting life, and the impact of climate change on the cycle. Pupils created sensory maps of the loch and their drawings inspired the waveforms that decorate interior of the shelter.

The Water's Wildlife by Croftcroighn School

The Water's Wildlife was the theme for Croftcroighn School's shelter. Here the pupils are using found objects, such as feather and fronds, to make marks and patterns in clay tiles. Coloured casts of the tiles were then used by Owen and Martin to create concrete replicas which now decorate the shelter design.

A Community Space

Our final theme explored the many ways the loch has benefited local people - past and present. Local residents shared their memories of time spent at the loch and why it remains an important part of the community.

IMPRINT activity

Owen and Martin explored sensory elements of the park with the pupils. Their IMPRINT activity played with textures by using found objects at Hogganfield Loch to make marks and patterns in clay tiles, which pupils then made casts from using coloured plaster. The casts were then used by Owen and Martin to create concrete replicas to incorporate into the shelter design.

Exploring History and Heritage

Artists Audrey O'Brien and Alice Dansey-Wright delivered a series of interactive outdoor workshops for local community groups. The aim was to elicit and capture creative responses to the nature and history of Bishop Loch.

Creative Responses

During winter walks participants collected natural materials of varying texture, colour and scent. Back in the studio, participants used their found materials to create artworks to explore the relationship between nature and everyday life. You can see some of their arrangements here: Slideshow Creation Nature 

With help from living history experts, Clanranald Trust for Scotland, students from Lochend Community High School went back to the medieval period to explore how the abundance of natural resources made Bishop Loch and the surrounding hunting estate so important to the Bishops of Glasgow Cathedral. Audrey and Alice also visited Abbey Court Residential Facility to discover more about the recent history of the loch from older residents of Easterhouse.

These workshops inspired A Sense of Bishop's Loch Exploration Pack which has lots of creative ideas and innovative activities that will help you make the most of your travels around Bishop Loch and Easterhouse Woodlands. Downloaded the full pack:  A Sense of Bishop's Loch Exploration Pack [10Mb] or individual activity sheets:

1.  Playing with Words [468kb]
2.  Playing with Nature - assemblage [427kb]
3.  Playing with Nature - colours [462kb]
4.  Playing with Nature - making your mark [418kb]
5.  Playing with History [422kb]

Explore, enjoy, and share your creative journeys using #asenseofbishopsloch