Earlier this year, Bridget Bailey was invited to participate in the Birds on the Edge exhibition, a project led by the North York Moors Trust that aims to help both nature and people thrive. The project creates key habitats for endangered birds, such as the turtle dove, while also offering young people opportunities to connect with nature and develop creative skills - an ethos that deeply resonated with her.
Her involvement in the exhibition offered an incredible opportunity. On a brisk April day, Bailey joined the project team and fellow artists in the North York Moors National Park to witness their conservation work first-hand. This experience inspired her to create artwork that reflects the awe she feels for birds' skill and ingenuity, and how they interact with their habitats. Bailey's goal was to create pieces that encourage others to notice and appreciate these environments. Inspired by the project's focus on engaging young people through sensory experiences, she sought to evoke a physical connection to nature through her art.
For her artwork, Nestscape, Bailey used colours and textures from the landscape to depict the changing seasons, incorporating delicate flora and fauna. Drawing from her 20 years of experience as a milliner, she crafted the nest using hat-making techniques. Much like birds, she repurposed materials from the environment, reflecting the creativity and adaptability of birds as they build intricate nests from their surroundings. The aim was to highlight the beauty and resourcefulness of birds, and how they thrive using the materials available to them.
As part of the exhibition, Bailey created a nature table display that ran for three days as part of the Nestscape installation. The display featured real birds’ nests alongside the materials and processes she used to create her artwork. This immersive experience sparked fascinating conversations among visitors, with some sharing stories of birds building nests in unexpected places—like on a car wheel or using strands of hair. The table helped visitors connect with nature, igniting discussions on issues such as habitat loss and plastic pollution, all while reflecting on the ingenuity of birds.
During the exhibition, Bailey also ran two drop-in feather workshops. Participants cut feathers into shapes mimicking grasses, and the activity highlighted the fine structure of feathers, drawing attention to the tiny barbs that hold them together. These sessions encouraged people to notice small details in nature, with families mentioning they would look for feathers on future walks, helping to foster a lasting connection with the natural world.
One of the most tactile activities Bailey led was the outdoor nest-making session. She set up a display of real birds' nests to inspire participants to create their own using natural materials from around Danby Lodge National Park Centre. Despite the rain, participants of all ages—including a four-year-old—embraced the hands-on experience, breaking sticks and curling grasses. The activity not only fostered creativity but also sparked meaningful conversations about birds and nature, with participants sharing personal stories from around the world.
The Birds on the Edge project allowed Bailey to engage with people on a deeper level, encouraging them to notice the beauty and ingenuity of birds and reflect on their shared relationship with nature. Through her artwork and workshops, Bailey hopes to have inspired others to see nature more closely and appreciate its wonder, fragility, and resilience—whether in the North York Moors or in their own backyards. Her time in the residency reaffirmed her belief in the profound benefits of connecting with nature through creative, immersive means, which can promote health and wellbeing, foster commonality between people and nature, and empower individuals to protect it.
