Today is "outside it is beautiful" day - yes, literally - but also - creatively. Well, if you can be creative about funding applications. Which, you can be. It's all about trying to bring people closer to communities, their wildlife and heritage they might not see or think about when they travel

New people getting on board with outside it is beautiful all the time, including our new producer Ben Pearson, and Friends of the Yorkshire Dales. Just getting closer to our vision, not further from it. #outsideitisbeautiful #storiesontrains #protectnature #wildlife #heritage #communites #audioapp

Fantastic meeting with Gerald Townson, chair of the Leeds-Morecambe Community Rail Partnership on the Bentham Line... outside it is beautiful is back, with exciting developments to come, new connections and plenty of art happening in September on nature and heritage... watch this space...

Well it is true, after so long fund raising and developing the project further, we are making it further down the line... So happy to be back and grateful to the continuing support from our partners and supporters, especially @northernrail.bsky.social and the Bentham Line and other CRPs.

Pleased to say that @oiib.bsky.social aka outside it is beautiful, a community nature/heritage audio stories project, will be back on The Bentham Line in September... watch this space for more over the next few months.

thank heaven for the wonderful people in @oiib.bsky.social and associated artists and groups... our resolve knows no bounds...

We are so pleased our community audio nature and heritage stories project is finally moving forward on the wonderful Bentham Train Line ('tween Leeds and Morecambe) #nature #heritage #audio #community #trains #benthamline #northernrail #leedsmorecambecommunityrailpartnerhship

We are disappointed not to receive funding from Arts Council England for the final phase of our project. But we believe ACE's report is positive, we will learn and reapply. In the interests of being transparent ACE's report can be accessed here: oiib.org.uk/ace-decision @verityrhealey.bsky.social

Writing a code of conduct 4 our project which includes a clause on not disturbing wildlife (of course) and treating insects living in the buildings we are working in with respect - i.e right to life. You'd think it would go without saying but spiders, wasps etc don't get treated well sometimes

New press release for us oiib.org.uk/press-releas...

We are working with FoB National Landscape,Yorkshire Peat Partnership,Wild Ingleborough,Settle Stories,Pioneer Projects,Adullam,Greatwood Primary School,Ribbleshead Fed Schools,SELFA,Ripon House,Kurdish House,Jewish Welfare Board,Letters to the Earth,Kaajal Modi, Rob St John, Wendy Pratt & many more

I ❤️ the support and brilliance of @oiib.bsky.social 's core artists. What a team :) 🙏 We move on, we get on, we go...

This is what we want to achieve with oiib (below). We need match funding from local funders in order to achieve it though. Yes, it's risky (so I am told). Yes it's ambitious (so I am told). But isn't that the whole point of art? To push for new cultural experiences/challenges - RISK! www.oiib.org.uk

Lots of moths in North Northants last night. Mega for my garden: 73 indivs of 36 species. Just a selection to show variety. #moths

We've been silent for a while but that's because we've been working hard...and our wonderful producer Helen is a wonder, we would not be in such a brilliant position for funders without all her amazing work...❤️

Productive day! Lovely letters from those wanting to work with us 2025, including FoB & an exciting group in France doing work worldwide, as well as local nature writers. & finally able to write my report for the Arts Council - which I am kind of enjoying. Our energy is returning, bring it on!

Absolute fury at this: United Utilities refusing to disclose data about sewage it's releasing into Windermere, because it's "not in the public interest." Ditto data on ammonia checks from a UU Cunsey Beck plant; site of a 2022 mass fish-kill from pollution. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Our audio adventure written by Sarah Hehir featuring heritage & wildlife stories along The Bentham Train Line, including a Hen Harrier named Helius. Voiced by locals.Use headphones... oiib.org.uk/ghost-of-the... @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @chrisgpackham.bsky.social

We just completed our R&D in North West England researching heritage and wildlife stories along the Bentham Train line. Supported by Arts Council England, Northern Rail and Culturapedia. Watch this space for our audio adventure and a special bird called Helius....