Amble is Going Goosey!

“The Dry Water team invite you to join in our journey toward change - by way of The Goose.

Participate in our online goose related workshops and share your creations in your windows as a symbol of hope, togetherness and support in the current period of lockdown. ”

Scroll down to find workshops, films, activity & fact sheets - so much goosey goodness!

Why Geese You May Ask?

At Dry Water (pre Covid) we would often rush outside to witness what we called Goose o’Clock. This being anytime the honking of geese overhead encouraged us to go look at the wide blue sky, to consider those magnificent formations above us, going about their daily flight paths.

It is a honking call to remember that what holds us and helps us is our sense of belonging to each other and the direction of travel we take together. It is fair to say we do love a goose for what they symbolise about the strength of togetherness, of purposefulness and for their amazing team work. In the past year it has become an increasingly important symbol for us.

“So, in the next few challenging months we would like to invite you to go a bit Goosey!”

What’s Involved?

The idea is simple, and given our communities incredible ability to create and participate, we know that all kinds of unexpected things will emerge.

We invite you to make a goose or flock of geese to hang/stick or place in your window throughout this current period of lockdown, to be an outward symbol of journeying together, holding together and our place in the big scheme of things.

Online Workshops

We have three workshops you can do - click on the images below for instructions & videos to show you the idea.

How to Make Window Geese

How to make flying geese

Watercolour Workshop

Then, send us your photos - we want to see them!

You can upload your photos directly from your computer or phone (or just send us them by email to info@drywaterarts.uk)

Meanwhile, listen to a gentle, guided relaxation from our in-house yogi - Paula

Wild Geese by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

Did You Know?

A group of geese is called a gaggle.
Geese travel in their family groups inside larger flocks.
Each goose looks after itself, but they keep in touch other using contact calls.
Geese fly in a V formation. The front bird breaks up the wall of air that the flock flies into. This leaves a wake of swirling air behind, which helps give a lift to the next bird along. In this way each bird in the V gets some help from the one in front of it. After a while, the leader drops back and another bird takes over.
Scientists have shown that birds in V formation can fly 70 per cent further than one bird flying alone.
Formation flying also helps a flock of birds to stick together.
Geese stay in close contact by honking as they fly, and the white markings on their rumps work as 'landing lights', helping each bird to see its neighbour.
If one goose becomes injured and has to land, a few family members will stay with it until it recovers. When it is ready to fly again they all set off and look for a new flock to join.