Welcome to the fourth instalment of Culture Box!

Delivery 1

Oak Tree by Martin Jordan

Oil on Canvas

A print of this painting with its corresponding activities is included in this month’s physical box.

This month, Martin has painted the life cycle of the Oak tree. There are 500 different types of oak and the English Oak is the one of the most common tree species found in the UK.

Oaks have been used by humans for thousands of years and are prized for their hardwood timber, one of the most durable in the world.

Martin is a visual artist who specialises in botanical and zoological painting. To find out more about him click here.

A Year in the Life of an Oak Tree, Woodland Trust

To introduce this box’s tree, we would like to share with you this video by Woodland Trust that shows how oak trees change throughout the seasons.

Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree by Tony Orlando & Dawn

Oak trees are a common feature in lots of different types of music and this song by Tony Orlando & Dawn was a huge hit in 1973.

If you would like to follow the words of the song on the video, or read them afterwards by clicking the link below.

Delivery 2

St Patrick’s Day Concert, Songhaven at Home

In celebration of St Patrick’s Day on 17th March, This is a classical concert of music to celebrate all things Irish, performed by talented young opera singers. 

The concert is part of a series produced by Songhaven, who have kindly offered to share all of their video recorded concerts with Culture Box.

For more opera style performances, click the link below for the Songhaven website.

Delivery 3

Common Oak Tree by Martin Jordan

Colouring-in Activity

This activity is included in this month’s physical box.

This outline drawing for you to colour in shows the life cycle of the oak tree, from an acorn attached to to a leaf with deep lobes/ curves to grown adult.

This is a time-lapse video made from 40,000 still images of a forest over a year.

Oaks Forests support more life than any other type and supply shelter and food for insects , birds and mammals like squirrels, badgers and deer.

‘a Forest Year’ Video

As the seasons progress watch how the scenery changes and think about:

• What happens to the colours?

• What happens to the trees?

• How does the weather change?

• What happens to the forest floor?

• What is your favourite season and why?

Blackbird Video

Blackbirds are common throughout the United Kingdom and are often seen in our gardens. 

When Spring arrives, they begin singing to establish their territory. We should begin to hear them singing sometime this month - a sign that Spring is here!

• Is there a blackbird in your garden? Where does it perch to sing?

• There are quite a few songs about blackbirds - do you know any? (Beatles Blackbird, Bye Bye Blackbird, and the nursery rhyme Sing a Song of Sixpence)

• There are different species of blackbird all over the world, including North West Africa, Turkey, South America, India and China. Are any of these familiar to you?

Delivery 4

Landscape Art Task by Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery

Painting Activity

Equipment for this activity is included in this month’s physical box.

This activity invites you to get in touch with your artistic side by painting a landscape of your choice with watercolour paints.

Consider:

• Your favourite type of landscape e.g. mountains, urban city scape, coastal, farmland

• What is your favourite season and what colours come to mind? For example, winter is associated with blue, white, purple, grey.

In this month’s box we have provided the watercolour paints, paint brushes and watercolour paper (size A3 which can be used as is or cut to the preferred size).

Oak Tree Carol by The Dovetail Trio

The oak tree features strongly in English folk culture. It is celebrated in folk song too and has been recorded by The Dovetail Trio on their album Wing of Evening.

If you would like to follow the words of the song, or read them afterwards, then click the link below.