Throughout the past year getting outdoors and exploring the green open spaces close to home has become more important than ever. For a long time, we were told to stay at home and the only break from this was to go for our daily allotted hour of exercise in our local area. Those who found themselves visiting the parks and green spaces on their doorsteps found a return to nature that offered an escape from the pressures of the unfolding pandemic.

Now that the U.K is beginning to reopen, photography students from the Wigan and Leigh College have explored what coming outside again and immersing yourself in the green landscape means to people from across the borough. The students have been conducting interviews with people in Mesnes park about their connections to the park and the way the green space is used and enjoyed. Commissioned by Wigan Council and Open Eye Gallery for Wigan Arts Festival 2021, the final photographs will be installed in a series of public photography exhibitions in Mesnes Park in the centre of Wigan.

A parallel exhibition called Return to nature by photographers and residents from across the Wigan borough will be exhibited at Pennington Flash Country Park and Haigh Hall Woodland Country Park for the duration of the Wigan Arts Festival.

Wigan Arts Festival is a a two week multi-arts festival from 30th July – 14th August featuring live music, art, theatre, poetry, comedy, film & family events! The festival aims to bring top notch cultural entertainment to Wigan, and also showcase many local talents!