Some things have a price, some are free and some for donation.

The site can be accessed at the far end from the original ticket entry gate. The road entry is from the side of the Pump House. Full details are in the ‘wee catalogue’.

Please note the island is now a site and is no longer suitable for children.

Explorers

Firstly, the plants and flags created by the young explorers are available to be reclaimed by the families on Friday 19^th August between 12 and 7pm or Wednesday 24^th August between 12 and 7pm.

Community Groups

From the 26^th – 28^th August we will have some community days for community groups to collect items for their growing spaces. The list of items available – some for free, some for sale is available here The Forgotten Island – items available

Public

Anything left will be updated on the list and available for the public to come and collect on Sunday 28^th August from 2pm – 6pm.

Bidding

In addition there are a range of artworks and other items which are open for bidding to those who wants to give them a good home –  Bidding closes on 25^th August at 5pm THE FORGOTTEN ISLAND – bidding

In addition there is the Secret Gardener’s brilliant shelters and greenhouse – open to offers but requires dismantling and rebuilding…

Email your bid to karenATcuriousgiant.org

Becky Sik, Maria McCavana, Kim Moore and Darren Wilson then worked in Anderston, Sighthill and Govan with children to develop ideas for specific art works for the island.

In Anderston, Becky and the children explored dens and shelters; kinetic energy and communication. Maria looked at collections and cabinets of curiosities.

In Govan there were sonic walks and songwriting workshops. These sounds were then used to create the Soundscape for the Sound Forest.  Sound Forest Music from the Baby Speaker

Becky and Kim collaborated together to design the physical sound installation and the designs of the children from Anderston were incorporated into the bikes and the speakers. The collaboration stretched as far as the US when Kim made contact with a project in Americafor top tips on the blinging of the bikes.

Meanwhile in Sighthill the children were trying to find out the identity of the Secret Gardener creating designs for the Secret Gardener’s paddock garden and planting their own plants.

Artist Rachel Mimiec worked in Yorkhill and Anderston to create artwork for around the island. From island design workshops with 2 year olds to flower crocheting with 82 year olds!

It was then the artist’s responsibilities to interpret and develop these ideas to create the works on the island.

So because children wanted rainbows we have a rainbow field; their sounds and music form the voice of the island, their plants grow and the museum collection increases with their wonderous creations.

As the project progresses, the island continues to flourish and grow with the imaginations and curiosity of the children who inspired it and the families who explore it each day.

One of the important differences about the island in comparison with other arts or visitor experiences is that is inspired by children’s ideas.

In October 2011, Giant and Kabloom worked with children in Sighthill to explore the concept of islands. Starting from the fantastical and idealistic the children then considered how they would survive on an island. Where would they sleep? What would they eat? What about security and shelter? How would they communicate with each other and outside of the island? This was all explored alongside the principles of sustainability and what they could achieve with limited resources.

By the end of the process the children had designed and created 3d models which they curated to form a small exhibition in the school. As part of the exhibition, visitors were also invited to add their ideas to the concept of what an island was.

The themes ideas, discussions and sketches then formed the basis for artist discussion in order to develop the masterplan which has become The Forgotten Island.

For the keen explorers who have visited the island, you may have spotted these pictures in the Museum of Curiosities. This is the derelict site before the island appeared in May. The images were taken last November when the area was little more than a rubble site with lots of rubbish that had been dumped, a stockpile of cobbles, poor drainage and a few plants including some Buddleia.

The physical transformation of the island began on May 16^th and was technically completed by the 30^th June to create an urban oasis. I say technically completed because whilst everything was in place and ready for the explorers to explore in, the island will continue to transform on a daily basis.

The willow continues to grow and become more lush, the wildflowers blossom, the bumble bee inhabitation increases and the paddock garden keeps on growing. It’s exciting to see nature take its course!

The Hive

For the opening weekend I received a visit from Johnny’s Garden and a special bee hive built for the island so that our explorers could see inside a working hive (see left).

This special hive was home to 30,000 honey bees and of course every hive needs a head of the household – the Queen Bee. The bees were brought onto the island and introduced to their hive on Friday 1^st July.

On Saturday, Norton and Michael from Johnny’s Garden had loads of questions about the bees and explorers planted bee friendly plants to encourage the bees to create Forgotten Island honey.

And then on Sunday, there was a rebellion! The bees swarmed out of their new hive and headed over to the reef with the Queen bee to set up a new hive amongst the cobbles. Michael and Norton tried to tempt them back but they were having none of it and instead set up home in a cardboard box!

So, now we have two hives. The breakaway camp on the reef who are now housed in their own wooden hive and the few hundred bees left in the original hive who we hope are feeding up a new Queen bee.

Royal Jelly for breakfast anyone?

Johnny’s Garden will be resident on the island every Saturday for more bee related insights and fun.

Time flies when you are preparing for an island to appear! I can hardly believe it has come around so quickly but this weekend will see the appearance of The Forgotten Island in Glasgow!

To celebrate the arrival of the island I am going to let the first 50 explorers to visit the island on Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd and Monday 4th of July in for FREE ! Good Luck explorers!

(free tickets will be given on a first come, first serve basis each day at The Forgotten Island on-site box office)

The theme is of this years Recycle Week is ‘recycling home and away’. Although home to a great many friendly insects I would class the island as ‘away’ but more importantly as a place that has recycling/reusing at it’s very core.

When the island appears it will be a growing space made from natural and recycled materials. Everything to do with the island (landscape, artworks, day to day running) has been developed with the environment in mind. Not only that but throughout the summer explorers will have the opportunity to get involved in a range of activities incorporating the themes of creativity, play, nature and sustainability. When the island disappears in September the materials and plants used in creating the space will be recycled yet again as they are gifted to local communities and projects.

Want to get involved in recycling? I notice that the fab folks at Recycle Now have created this tool so you can find out what things can be recycled near you!  Recyclenow

My first ever Forgotten Island e-newsletter has now been launched!  Sign up on the  website to receive this weekly bulletin full of news from the island.

This week:  a chance to win tickets to The Forgotten Island; details about the Museum of Curiosities; my top tip for your family day out; and how to get invovled in making rainbows….