RADION: Live Programme was a series of events which aimed to investigate and facilitate conversations generated as part of the wider RADION project. RADION has primarily explored our relationship to both heritage and nature within the Basildon Borough, and the role it has played in the town — from farming, plotlands, New Town to present-day developments. Basildon has been in a cycle of change since the late 19th Century and our relationship to heritage and green spaces, both past and present, is an emotive subject.
Thank you to Arts Council England and Basildon Council for supporting the programme.
Photography by Aaron Shrimpton and Philippa Stewart.
Radical Histories of Basildon: Part 2
Saturday 12th September 2021 at Colours, BasildonSpeakers included Jake Hogg, Rose Cleary, Lisa Horner and Zelda Jeffers.
A discussion event bringing together community groups, local activists, writers and historians to reflect on the idea that ‘Basildon was built on tears’. Since being designated as one of Britain's first post-war British New Towns in 1949, Basildon has seen successive waves of regeneration and development. How have Basildon’s residents reacted to these changes, and how might we produce histories of the town which focus on the lives of ordinary people?
Directions_Bas Shorts 2
Saturday 12th September 2021 at Colours, BasildonFilmakers included Emma Louise Hale, Ian Helliwell, Chris Michael, Daisy Howarth, George Morgan, Maz Murray and Omarion Smythe.
The evening presented new and recent moving image work and short films by local filmmakers or those familiar with the town. Following the 1st edition held at the Craft Shed in 2019, this year we are very pleased to be located at the newly refurbished Colors nightclub, for an even bigger menu of visual delights capturing alternative realities, fantasies and everyday experiences, that question what it is to live in Basildon, Essex and other New Towns.
Radion Talks & Walks spotlights community groups/organisations which care for both nature and heritage (past and present) within the borough through creative means, such as archiving, planting, design, photography and building. These organisations hosted a small group to share what they do, how they do it and how you can get involved.
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The volunteers from the Friends of the Langdon Reserve gave a tour of their lovely sensory garden, orchard and a meadow touching on the history of the group, area, what they do and how they do it. John Little gave a talk about the work he does locally via Grass Roof co including work on the new visitor centre car park and with Langdon Hills Living Landscape.
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Basildon Borough Heritage offered a series of talks at the green centre at Wat Tyler Country park including a tour of their space and displays. Talks included the history of the town, the role the group plays locally in preserving and commemorating the towns history including their past and current projects and the practicalities of archiving.
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Gloucester Park Community Group gave a tour of the park which included the history of the area, exploring local biodiversity and the history of the group, what they do and how they do it.
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Basildon Natural History Society gave a tour of Marks Hill Wood, a 43-acre nature reserve, which is run on an entirely voluntary basis. The terrain varies, and includes sections of ancient coppice woodland, more recent woodland, former plotland, hay meadow and ponds. The walk was led by Glenn Jacobs the charimen of the society who shared the history, biodiversity and importance of the area as well as insight into the history and workings of the group.
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Friends of the Langdon Reserve and Grass Roof Co
Saturday 11th September, 2021 at Langdon Hills Nature ReserveThe volunteers from the Friends of the Langdon Reserve gave a tour of their lovely sensory garden, orchard and a meadow touching on the history of the group, area, what they do and how they do it. John Little gave a talk about the work he does locally via Grass Roof co including work on the new visitor centre car park and with Langdon Hills Living Landscape.
Basildon Borough Heritage
Saturday 9th October 2021 at Green Centre, Wat Tyler Country ParkBasildon Borough Heritage offered a series of talks at the green centre at Wat Tyler Country park including a tour of their space and displays. Talks included the history of the town, the role the group plays locally in preserving and commemorating the towns history including their past and current projects and the practicalities of archiving.
Gloucester Park Community Group
Sunday 10th October 2021 at Gloucester Park, BasildonGloucester Park Community Group gave a tour of the park which included the history of the area, exploring local biodiversity and the history of the group, what they do and how they do it.
Basildon Borough History Society
Sunday 17th October 2021 at Marks Hill WoodsBasildon Natural History Society gave a tour of Marks Hill Wood, a 43-acre nature reserve, which is run on an entirely voluntary basis. The terrain varies, and includes sections of ancient coppice woodland, more recent woodland, former plotland, hay meadow and ponds. The walk was led by Glenn Jacobs the charimen of the society who shared the history, biodiversity and importance of the area as well as insight into the history and workings of the group.
