Launching Wild Wings of Hope
In October 2025, Wild Wings of Hope made its debut at the National Museum of Scotland during the half-term holidays—one of the busiest family footfall periods of the year.
Presented as part of Black History Month Scotland and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, this three-day celebration wove together papercraft, storytelling, and conservation to illuminate the ecological connections between Scotland and Africa.
What We Delivered (Over 3 Days)
Hundreds of barn swallows, swifts, and orange-tip butterflies, each taken home as a beautifully made memento.
of hope
People of all ages wrote personal ‘messages of hope’ which were added to community-created mobiles.
Vibrant performances where our storytellers brought migration to life through stories and song.
engaged
Thousands took part in the craft, storytelling, specimen handling & conservation activities over three days.
The Papercraft
Wildlife artist Ed Harrison collaborated with the museum team to deliver craft sessions, inviting participants to create delicate birds and butterflies.
Across three vibrant days of making, the workshop community produced an incredible 240 barn swallows, 240 orange-tip butterflies, and 390 swifts—each one a tactile, hand-made memento of their museum experience.
Papercraft Outcomes:
-
Creative learning: Supporting participants to craft intricate migratory species while exploring their anatomy and ecology.
-
Celebrating connection: Honouring the journeys of birds and insects and showing that nature knows no borders.
-
Collaborative making: Inviting people to take their artwork home or contribute to a shared Wild Wings of Hope community mobile.
-
Lasting impact: Creating high-quality, tactile pieces that spark joy, reflection, and a deeper bond with the natural world.
Thanks for having the vision of bringing together conservation, nature, art and spirituality. The world needs more of this!
Very accessible for all ages. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed the crafts & learning about the birds & butterflies.
Messages of Hope
A gentle drop-in activity invited people to write Messages of Hope on luggage labels and hang them among the community mobile of paper barn swallows.
Over the three days, 76 messages were shared, creating a quiet space for reflection as people paused to write their thoughts and read the heartfelt words left by others.
The kids really enjoyed! Crafts are the perfect way to get small people engaged in important topics.
The Storytelling
Inspired by traditional African folklore and Scottish tales, this storytelling journey crossed land and sea to honour our shared ecology and cultural heritage.
Collaborating storytellers—master folklorist Chief Gift Amu Logoste and Scottish bard Cara Silversmith—shared vivid tales of annual migrations, weaving ecological insight with imagination and bringing the papercut species to life as props.
Rhythms of Connection
Gift’s rhythmic accompaniment brought Cara’s migration stories to life, deepening the atmosphere and emotional resonance.
Participatory African drumming circles, with 20 hand drums for audiences of all ages, deepened the experience through rhythm, connection, and collective energy.
Storytelling Outcomes:
-
Ecological education: Interweaving ecological facts with imaginative, engaging narratives.
-
Celebrating diversity: Honouring the richness of cultures, people, and wildlife—and showing that nature has no borders.
-
Addressing challenging topics: Using storytelling and metaphors to gently open conversations around migration (human and animal), climate change, and habitat loss in a safe, supportive environment.
-
Fostering hope: Bringing together folklore, rhythm, and traditional storytelling to nurture resilience and connection in community.
Lovely and engaging atmosphere. Thank you guys, for this magic that brings hope!
African Sounds & Stories
In African culture, music and storytelling are timeless, healing arts. These workshops invite palliative care patients and families to craft barn swallows and shape songs—rituals of expression that offer comfort and connection in life’s hardest times.
