Creating shapes out of leaves, climbing the trees and simply enjoying the outdoors were all on offer at the Art Play in Nature event at Chingford Park yesterday.
It is among a lineup of 150 events which form this year’s Wild Dunedin Festival, or the New Zealand Festival of Nature, which started last Friday.
Festival director Jeannie Hayden said the event encapsulated the beauty of ephemeral art and how nature was inherently creative.
Attendees were invited to contribute to a giant tapestry-collage using fallen leaves, twigs, and other natural materials found around Chingford Park.
It was also a great way to kick off the school holidays, with the festival itself running until next Sunday.
"You can make beautiful things with what’s off the ground. It’s giving them a licence to play in nature."
Event-goers were treated to the gentle sounds of brass dancing through the tree tops, courtesy of members of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and the Dunedin Youth Orchestra, among others.
The event played host to a number of environmental groups including stalls from Predator Free Dunedin and Town Belt Kaitiaki.
Having all these community groups come together in an amazing park, along with combining art with nature, was a great cost-free way to keep yourself busy — and learn some lessons along the way.
"Kids are connected to nature. I think it’s the adults who don’t give into the opportunity", Ms Hayden said.
