Jolly Flag Making with Nicola Davis and Cranborne Chase AONB

We were delighted to be chosen to take part in this wonderful project with local artist Nicola Davis who visited us at our Jolly Days in Wimborne St Giles. Chase and Chalke Landscape Partnership Scheme are the organisers led by Cranborne Chase AONB. They are creating a series of ten flags that represent memories and stories associated with the beautiful Cranborne Chase, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It was a two-stage process, Nicola visited us a couple of weeks ago and helped us to make sketches reflecting the iconic images that we associated with living on Cranborne Chase.  She then brought all of these together to make a beautiful design, where everyone's sketch was included.

On her second visit, she brought the silk flag, which is huge, with our design applied with lines of wax - so that the spread of the paint could be controlled. The whole flag was stretched on a giant frame and Nicola very clearly explained how we could start to paint it. 

We were all a bit timid at first, but when we realised that there were 'no mistakes' we all got stuck in. It was very relaxing to see the paint spread as we applied it to the silk and Nicola showed us how to make interesting effects using salt, different colour combinations and brush strokes. The afternoon flew by and our guests were really proud of what we had achieved as a group.

The flag will be on display with others in the series at various events in Cranborne AONB over the next couple of years.  We really look forward to being able to welcome it back and hope to have it on permanent display at WSG Village Hall in the future.

A huge thank you to Chase and Chalke, Cranborne Chase AONB and artist Nicola Davis for enabling us to be a part of such a special project. Thank you also to Brent Jones for coming along and taking these fabulous photos.

Can you spot all these things on our jolly flag?

• A bird's eye view of the fields

• The dark sky reserve

• The Statue of Eros, as he is popularly known ( it’s actually Anteros) who is the symbol of charitable love. It’s a homage to the charitable works of the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. The famous statue at the end of Shaftesbury Avenue in London points towards St Giles House and a smaller version on the lawn of St Giles's House points towards its London counterpart.

• Royal hunting grounds with a deer being chased

• Local animals and trees

• The Farm School’s beehives

• Brian driving his tractor

• The church and Almshouses

• The village hall, and tea and cakes - a reference to In Jolly Good Company (and the famous WSG Sunday Teas!)

Take a look at the video that Giulia Franchi filmed of us as we made the flag