River Tone Risks Beyond Human Eyes: Animal Collaboration Event
Our first in-person gathering!
Thank you to everyone that joined the launch event. We’re now moving into our working phase of the project. We can’t wait to see you all.
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What to expect. In this practical session, you'll meet others from up and down River Tone, and guided by the research team, we'll explore (and practice) different methods for deepening your understanding of your nonhuman animals. It should be fun, informal and insightful - as we learn about the different ways our nonhuman animals perceive the world, how they move through it, interact with it and respond to the threats they face. We'll also discuss ethical implications of the project, starting to consider how we take seriously our nonhuman animals concerns, desires and equal standing as part of our community. This session will give you the best opportunity to learn some new (some experimental) ways of collaborating with your nonhuman animals.
What happens if I can't make it? That's ok, we still want you to stay with the project. Ahead of the session, we'll be providing a simple "Animal Collaboration Guide" which will cover most of the material we're going through in the session. This will allow you to try some of the methods in your own time. The research team will be on hand to discuss and Phil will be available for any in-person support.
Looking forward. A key session for us will be in March, where we'll invite you all back to sit around a big screen and start building the "animal risk worlds" with Thomas, giving "testimony" from you nonhuman animal as to how they perceive risks. We'll be doing this together so there will be no pressure. It will be a group discussion with no right or wrong answers - the key thing is that we all try to see things from our animals perspective - not our human ones. That's why we're doing the animal collaboration session now, to get you out with your nonhuman animals and stepping into their world.
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For the full project info, please see our Project FAQs document.
This project is open to anyone from the River Tone catchment - from Elworthy to Burrowbridge, Luxhay to West Bagborough. Come and join this bold attempt to reconnect River Tone with their people and animals, and make new friends along the way.
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Dates for your diary:
1000-1230. 16 March Second half day gathering in-person, “building animal risk worlds”, in Taunton with food.
To confirm:
Week of 27 April Third half day gathering in-person, “animal-led systemic responses”, in Taunton with food.
Week of 25 May Final half day gathering in-person, “collective action and reflections", in Taunton with food.
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This project is kindly funded by the EPSRC's Ecological Citizen(s) Network and led by the University West of England and ASRA, in partnership with Friends of Longrun Medaow and Somerset Wildlife Trust