Art on the Farm launches at Bere Marsh Farm

What a wonderful event! 

Bere Marsh Farm in Dorset is delighted to host Art on the Farm after the launch of FLOW, part of Dorset Arts Weeks,’ last weekend. 

Our Threshing Barn was transformed by selected visual artist Debbie Lee, whose live presentation responded beautifully to the River Stour and the surrounding landscape. 

The launch event welcomed visitors from across Dorset to experience both the opening exhibition and the ongoing work taking place at Bere Marsh Farm. 

The exhibition, which includes a large oil painting and a drawing of the narrative flow of the imagery for the River Stour, as well as 12 framed monoprints and an animated drawing, will be open every day, except Sunday May 31st, during Dorset Arts Weeks, from 10 am to 5pm, until the exhibition closes on Saturday 6th June.  

Danielle Dewe, the CEO of the Countryside Regeneration Trust, said: “The CRT at Bere Marsh Farm is delighted to be involved with Dorset Arts Weeks' and honoured to host the headline commission piece by Debbie Lee in our Threshing Barn. 

“Debbie's piece, Flow, is so representative of the work we have done at Bere Marsh Farm on the River Stour, and recently improving habitat for wading birds. 

“Bere Marsh Farm is working to improve biodiversity in the countryside, so working with Dorset Visual Arts, who are committed to exploring the role visual arts plays in protecting natural environments, seems a natural step.” 

Debbie, who is from Langton Matravers, gathered people’s stories about their relationship to the River Stour for the exhibition and created her own response. 

“I really enjoyed walking, drawing and gathering stories and poems about the River Stour this spring when the river was at its fullest,” she said. 

"I found lovely walks along the Stour way which holds many secret treasures flowing between ancient settlements as a trade route to the sea past mills and weirs and the abundance of natural wildlife. Everyone I met on this journey had a story about the river to share.

"I talked with Wessex water and a water lab about some pollution threats to the river and I hope that this art project shows how important the river is to people to protect so it can continue flow clean and free for future generations to enjoy."

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