Stories That Take Flight
Through papercraft & interactive storytelling, Wild Wings of Hope celebrates the awe-inspiring migration of barn swallows & swifts between the UK and Africa.
Crafting Stories of Hope
Created by Welsh environmental artist Ed Harrison, Wild Wings of Hope is a collaborative arts project developed with storytellers from Celtic and African traditions.
Inspired by the annual return of barn swallows (gwennol in Welsh) to his family home in South Wales, the project has grown from a personal response to grief into a collaborative arts initiative connecting people, species and places across continents.
Through immersive experiences of papercraft and storytelling, participants are invited to slow down, create together and rediscover our shared relationship with the living world.
Help Wild Wings of Hope reach more communities
We’re crowdfunding to bring storytelling and craft workshops to schools, hospitals, palliative care communities and dementia-friendly groups.
Through culture and creativity, Wild Wings of Hope creates spaces where people can navigate loss, nurture resilience, connect with nature and experience a sense of community and belonging.
Workshops & Experiences
Vibrant performances that interweave Celtic & African folklore with stories of migration & the natural world.
Making insects & birds through papercut activities, inspiring creativity through sustainable craft.
Bringing stories to life through songs, drumming circles & shared musical experiences.
Using creative writing & shared reflection to explore hope, memory & our connections with the natural world.
Partnerships &
Projects
Music, Making & Migrating Swifts
A celebration of swifts at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, bringing families together through papercraft, storytelling and participatory drumming.
3 ways to take action
From planting pollinators to becoming a citizen scientist, we’ve put together a shortlist of ways to take action for insects and birds.
Updates & Events
From the blog
Our first feedback session in an NHS setting
A test flight for the Wild Wings of Hope AR prototype, in collaboration with RSPB Scotland—exploring how craft, storytelling and technology can support nature connection in care.
4
