Watershed at blackShed
Charlotte Still & Clare Whistler
Art Exhibition inspired by local water walks
5 July – 2 August 2025
With artists
Cliff Crawford
Julie Ford
Ibby Lanfear
Kim Lasky
Skylar Mulholland
Victoria Rance
Jane Sarre
Victoria Threlfall
Marcia Tuesink
Sarah Turley
Kaixiang Zhang
Opening 5 July 4-6pm and into dusk with music and bat event
Bat Monitoring Evenings
11 & 18 July 9-10.30 pm
with Karen Hammond
Pilgrimage Walk
Bodiam Castle to blackShed
13 July
More events and walks being added
About the project
A year-long, seasonal art and nature community project focussing on pond building and bat conservation. Water underpins everything in this project, artists Clare Whistler and Charlotte Still have dedicated over a decade to raising awareness to the importance of water in everything and promoting a deeper connection and understanding between people and the water that gives us life. This project is a branch of their overall, ongoing practice.
Working with local pond building expert Pete the Pond, and bat conservationist, Karen Hammond we will work with local community groups (and anyone else who wants to get involved!) to increase biodiversity at Russet Farm and create new homes and habitats for local wildlife, particularly bats and the insects and invertebrates they feed on.
Participants will be invited to learn how to build a small garden pond, a bat box, count bats flying through the summer night sky (to feedback data to the National Bat Monitoring Programme), but also to ‘ponder’, write, think about historical and mystical meanings that water can hold, learn about the boating history of the River Rother and connect to local landscapes together.
This project is funded and supported with money from the High Weald Nature and Community Fund, a grant programme supported by the Lund Trust and operated by the High Weald National Landscape Partnership.
Instagram: @highwealdnl
Facebook: HighWealdNL
blackShed Gallery
Russet Farm, Redlands Lane,
Robertsbridge, TN32 5NG
On Foot
Turn left out of Robertsbridge station and walk down Station Road to the High Street. Turn left at Judges the Bakery, cross the road and walk up Fair Lane to the left of the Seven Stars pub. At the top of Fair Lane, just off to the right follow the footbridge over the A21. Turn left at the end of the footbridge and follow Redlands Lane until it splits (East House on the left) turn right and after about 200 yards look for Russet Farm on the right. Walk up the side of the red brick bungalow through the gate and the blackShed galley is up toward the top of the yard.
By Car
Do not turn into Robertsbridge, stay on the A21. Turn east into Redlands Lane (Fair Lane on Google maps). Follow the lane until it splits at the East House and bear right. Russet Farm can be found just a few hundred yards on the right just after the dutch barns. blackShed galley is up toward the top of the yard.
Instagram: @blackshed
Facebook: @theblackshedgallery
Official project contact: lorna123@theblackshedgallery.org.uk
Phone 01580 881 247
