This week we joined Vicky Putler (who runs The Flax Project) to help build an oversized Corn Dolly made of flax straw on Blockhouse Park. The making took place in Stoke Youth and Community Centre and outside in Blockhouse Park. Everyone who wanted to could have a go and join in the conversation.
Vicky told us “The name Corn Dolly is a generic term for symbolic objects woven from straw of any kind, usually wheat. Corn Dollies date back to pre-Christian farming practices. Corn dollies were traditionally made from the first or last stems of the harvest. It was believed that the spirit of the field was saved in the corn dolly until the following spring when the dolly would be planted back into the field and this would release the spirit for the next crop. The corn dolly is a reminder of a healthier past relationship to nature, one that we have all but lost. It speaks of the looming disaster but also, if we listen, it gives us the key to regain what we have lost.”
Passers-by and visitors were invited to participate in building the dolly or have a go at making a smaller traditional one to take away. Vicky had advertised the workshops by leaving small (miniature) dollies around the area (and across West Plymouth) with a special card attached that said ” The spirit of nature talks to us through these beautiful objects. Are we listening?” and had a link to the web page about the project.
Flax crafters and Village Hub volunteers were available to talk to people and show how to weave flax straw into small dollies and assist with the larger one. Later in the summer, we will return the Flax Corn Dolly (and the spirit of the field) to the soil before sowing a bed of flax seed on Blockhouse Park. 100 days later, we will celebrate the flax harvest!!
Here are some photos from the workshops – https://photos.app.goo.gl/HAmKMZMh6pv279DN8
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A Flax Corn Dolly on Blockhouse Park has been made possible by a Keyham Community Sparks Grant.
It was also supported by the Growing The Village Hub project (in partnership with Take A Part, and co-funded using money from the National Lottery by Arts Council England, Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund).
