By Ruthie Collins, a writer and socially engaged artist based in East Anglia.
As an artist, I’ve fused writing and place-based nature connection with participatory and public art to help make poetry and conservation accessible since 2019.
A new poem, The Rainbow Chrysalis was created as part of Platforma festival, intended as a resource for children in particular to enjoy exploring iconic British butterflies such as The Painted Lady and the Red Admiral – which have an astonishing migratory journey that is little known. We provided participating groups with educational powerpoints to support extended learning on these beautiful butterflies. Plus we worked with children to enjoy movement in nature and these extraordinary journeys, through dance and art.
With artist friends, I’ve also created an audio track and sound collage opening with the sound of canary song – inspired by how refugees fleeing religious persecution arriving in Norwich in 16th century gave Norwich’s football team their name. Children with lived experience of conflict shared words from The Rainbow Chrysalis as a call for peace and made art celebrating these beautiful butterflies. The track also takes inspiration from the heritage of unity in rave in British culture – a huge part of East Anglian musical heritage.
The track has been mastered by Banco de Gaia who is known for his activism and critically acclaimed work such as Last Train to Lhasa. At a time when 1 in 6 children are affected by war and conflict all over the world this call for peace feels needed.
We shared the poem, art created by children and a QR code linking to the track as an installation to be documented for Platforma in the Old Piano Shop, Norwich. And we are creating a tour for The Rainbow Chrysalis as a track to be shared at festivals and music spaces – a call for peace.
We are also delighted to be giving flower seeds to support the restoration of butterflies as part of an ongoing project Happiness Is Growing and all are welcome to take part in helping to plant to nurture biodiversity from all backgrounds. The Rainbow Chrysalis is available as a resource to support learning and planting for The Painted Butterfly and the Red Admiral, plus we have other Natural Wonder poems to help explore butterflies and the joy of planting to restore the landscape.
Bringing people together from all backgrounds to do something positive, planting seeds together, helps increase wellbeing for both people and planet.
Happiness is Growing supports the restoration of biodiversity through planting, participation and poetry with Natural Wonder, a participatory poetry collection written with support from Arts Council England in 2021/22.
In 2026 and 2027 we are restoring a butterfly meadow in Norfolk with planting from children and families across Norfolk – all are welcome to take part.
Thanks to Extraordinary Communities CIC and Counterpoints Arts for supporting this piece and to all who have so far helped butterflies by taking part! If you would like to get involved please connect with me via wwww.ruthiecollins.co.uk
