A Map of Small Things

“They were maps that lived, maps that one could study, frown over, and add to; maps, in short, that really meant something.” ― Gerald Durrell

The British charity Common Ground promotes the linking of nature and the arts to bring attention to those things which are significant in a personal, local and cultural way but often receive little attention. One of the tools they use is the making of maps by local people. The maps record landscape, artifacts, gathering places and objects personally important to the mapmaker. In this way a collection of maps reveals the shape of a community.                                                                                                                               Made over time the maps become an accurate historical record of the area. When faced with planning decisions the maps become a vital tool in establishing what is important to the community. They trace changes in environment, architecture and social practises. They can identify when to take action and when to let change ensue.

What would be on your map?

A special tree

 St Anne's Park, Dublin courtesy william murphy

A gathering place

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Habitat for an endangered species                                                                                            

Spotted owl

What would be on mine?

A favourite walk

Dunwich Heath, Suffolk

A crinkle crankle wall in Garden Lane,Worlingham
                                                                 

I couldn't find one of garden lane but this is similar courtesy nick macneill 

The black mulberry tree behind the wall and the market garden beyond it

flower-black mulberry

 
The monkey puzzle tree in the garden of a mysterious old house        

                                                                 

Both trees are gone. The market garden is covered in a housing development. The mysterious house knocked down. What if maps had been drawn? What if the trees or garden were on them all? What if we knew the trees were important to everyone? Would the trees still be there?

Make a map. Knit it, paint it, take pictures, make a collage, sketch it, embroider it. It is a beautiful thing to do.

If you post about your map send me a link and I will gather them together in a later post.