The Heritage & Wildlife of Maxey Cut & Westings
The stories of this land have been forgotten for over 200 years. This year we begin to tell them again.
Art Pop-Up’s latest artist-led project The Heritage & Wildlife of Maxey Cut & Westings is a collaboration with artist Kathryn Parsons — building on four years of her work uncovering hidden histories, local voices and the layered stories of this landscape.
Situated between Helpston and Maxey, for over five hundred years Westings Meadow was large and highly valued flood-meadow shared by the surrounding villages until the early 1800s. It’s mentioned in documents dating back as far as 1263. There’s even a map dated 1580 showing a detailed survey of the meadow. And in Neolithic and Bronze Age times it was an important meeting place. Nowadays the Maxey Cut flood relief channel flows through that landscape, and this year marks its 70th anniversary.
Since the Maxey Cut was built the landscape has changed dramatically due to changing farming practices, gravel extraction and recent nature restoration. This has created a landscape that’s rich in biodiversity, providing nesting sites for rare turtle doves and homes for harvest mice, wild orchids, glow-worms and more!
Victorian poet John Clare grew up playing on the old meadow, and wrote about a walk there 185 years ago. He describes the wildlife, views and the carvings on the old stone bridges which we can still see today – he says they were made by bored shepherds and cow-tending boys! They are a tangible link with the people who have worked this land in past generations.
Working with a team of volunteers, ecologists, an Oral Historian, historic costume maker, archaeologist, artists and more, we’re gathering, sharing and preserving the histories and living memories of this fascinating and fast-changing piece of our local countryside.
From March to November 2026 we’ll be reconnecting community memory and place through shared storytelling and exploring the heritage of this remarkable site. We’re hosting guided walks, online talks and a mini heritage festival for local primary schools. To receive news about upcoming events email westings@artpopup.co.uk and ask to be put on the mailing list, or keep an eye on Art Pop-Up’s Eventbrite page.
Artist-researcher, Kathryn Parsons, the project’s Engagement Lead, is also creating an artwork based on a 1600’s shepherd’s smock handmade for the project by Heidi McEvoy-Swift. The work is inspired by the workers’ fashion of John Clare’s time and traditional mending techniques.
This project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund with thanks to National Lottery players alongside the Environment Agency. Thanks also to Langdyke Countryside Trust for practical support, including allowing access to their nature reserves for some events.
Events:
All events are free, and ticketed with booking via the link below:
ART POP-UP EVENTBRITE COLLECTION
If you are unable to use Eventbrite please email us – westings@artpopup.co.uk
Places must be booked in advance, please contact us with regard to accessibility.
Events include expert-guided walks, talks (online and in person) and workshops with a culminating exhibition and activities at Queensgate on Sat 10th and Sunday 11th October 2026 suitable for all ages and a small touring exhibition touring to the villages of Helpston, Glinton and Northborough in November 2026
Follow us on socials to keep up with the project and the discoveries we are making!
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