The two-date event – which will take place on Tuesday 17 May and Thursday 19 May – will feature performances, discussion events and a chance to share stories and taste foraged food from the campus.
Fruit Routes is a project founded by artist Anne-Marie Culhane working with the University's Sustainability and Gardens Teams, which creates an edible campus by planting fruit and nut trees, providing a location for cultural activities and encouraging the development of the campus as a living laboratory.
The project will also form the Institute of Advanced Studies’ Festival of Ideas (16-27 May), bringing together scholars, activists, artists, and the wider University and local communities, to critically examine crucial transitions and pave the way for more informed, cross-disciplinary thinking for change.
The programme for Fruit Routes is as follows:
Tuesday 17 May
2pm-3.15pm: Branching Out Storywalk: Traditional Stories of Our Treescapes
Join storyteller Patrick Ryan on a walk as he weaves stories about the trees around Fruit Routes. Those are interested should meet at the Barefoot Orchard. Refreshments will be available from 3pm.
3.30pm-5pm: Part II: Stories of the Heartwood
Gather in the Barefoot Orchard to listen and share stories about trees, both personal and universal. This session will be led by Fred Dalmasso and Liz Lovely from the Storytelling Academy.
Thursday 19 May
10am-1pm: Celebration of Fruit Routes and Launch of the Fruit Routes Charter
Taking place at the International House, this event will mark the first decade of the eco-art project and the future of the UK’s first edible campus. There will be short talks followed by a panel discussion featuring local community members, artists and University researchers.
2pm-3.15pm: Ensemble Walk
Enjoy a walk together around the route sharing different observations, reflections and knowledge guided by Fruit Routes founder and artist Anne-Marie Culhane. (International House)
3.30pm-5pm: Wild Tea
Join us for some tea and foraged food from the Loughborough campus. Take the opportunity to also try your hand at tasseography, the art of reading the future, with Paul Conneally, Anne-Marie Culhane and Jo Dacombe. (Barefoot Orchard)
6pm-7pm: Spell-ing the Green Knowledge
A performance to mark a decade of Fruit Routes, created by Topologies-of-Between who bring together sound, image, mark-making, objects and voice. (Barefoot Orchard)
9pm-late: Moth Trapping
Join Graham and Nona Finch from Leicestershire Entomological Society and learn more about the different species of moths who reside on our campus.
Artist and founder of Fruit Routes, Anne-Marie Culhane said: “We are delighted to invite you to In Your Hands: a varied mini-festival of events on Fruit Routes to mark the tenth year of this award-winning project. This includes storytelling and a chance to share your love of trees, orchards and woods; wild foraged food and drink; live performances in the Barefoot Orchard; walks and discussion about the future of the project, the edible campus, Fruit Routes and its relevance as a cultural and learning space at a time of climate and ecological emergency.
“The event also marks the transition of the care of Fruit Routes to a wider group from the local community and the University, where you can come and find out more about how to become part of this team.”
Tom Calcluth, Loughborough alumnus commented: “Having taken part in Fruit Routes for the past three years, I can genuinely say it's one of my favourite projects the University holds. Using the institution’s own resources and putting them back into the community whilst holding captivating events epitomises the cooperative and reciprocal culture we strive to produce at Loughborough.”
Fruit Routes is free to attend and no booking is required in advance, simply turn up on the day. The Barefoot Orchard is located near the Pilkington Library, opposite the University Lodge.
Accessibility
Please note events in the Barefoot Orchard take place on level ground and some seating will be provided. The route itself is not always on structured paths. For more information about the accessibility of the site please email environment@lboro.ac.uk