Tree tales part of festival
Families have an opportunity to combine technology, reading and nature in a new and innovative experience at this year’s Art is… festival in Horsham.
This year’s festival features a Trees Tell Tall Tales Trail, where families armed with smart phones can walk on a trail to a series of trees along the Wimmera River, Horsham Botanic Gardens and Weir Park for a reading experience.
At each signposted tree, families can use a phone to access a recording of a children’s story, as well as learn some information about the specific tree they are visiting.
Horsham community representatives Rae Talbot, Sarah Natali, Peter Slarke, Dale Baker, Judy Mackley, Mary Dalgleish and Cassy Kelly, Member for Lowan Emma Kealy and Horsham mayor Mark Radford have recorded stories for the project.
People keen to go on the tour can gather a Trees Tell Tall Tales map from the Horsham Library, Horsham Civic Centre, Redrock Books and Gallery in Firebrace Street, Horsham Regional Art Gallery or the Kalkee Road Children’s and Community
Hub. Maps are available from tomorrow.
For the duration of the festival there will be a treasure hunt for children to find an animal at each of the trees.
Families can take their completed maps to Horsham Library and the first 200 children with correct entries will win a free book.
The Trees Tell Tall Tales project is a collaborative project aimed at improving early-years literacy while providing meaningful outdoor experiences.
The inaugural trail features seven books and trees and there are plans to add to the number of trees in the future.
A program launch will be at Kalkee Road Children’s and Community Hub at 1.45pm today and families are invited to attend.
Former Horsham resident Dale Baker, author of children’s book Arty Farty Marty, is visiting Horsham as part of the Trees Tell Tall Tales Trail.
He will lead a Saturday storytelling session at Horsham Library on June 8 and will have books to give away to the first 30 children who register and attend the session.
People can call the library on 5382 5707 to book a spot.