Inspiring Young People to ‘Be more Ethel’

To celebrate Ethel Haythornthwaite’s environmental campaigning work, CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire is working with young people, during their centenary year, to bring her inspirational story to life.

Students at Newfield School in Norton Lees have been exploring the life of the Sheffield born environmentalist, through a series of interactive workshops led by Whitworks Adventures in Theatre (WAT). 240 Year 7 students examined letters, photos, maps and books to find out how Ethel’s work to protect the countryside, including her campaigning efforts to acquire land around Sheffield and protect it from inappropriate development. This includes an area of farmland, waterways and ancient woodland adjacent to Newfield School, in the Moss Valley, from open cast mining.

The students’ characterisation of Ethel as an energetic, dedicated, and an influential leader reflects the impact of her work and their appreciation of environmental conservation. They told us that “Ethel is an important and engaging powerful female voice from the past. Often, history is dominated by men. This is an opportunity to change that!”

Assistant Head, Donna Lee tell us about the workshops; “Working with Whitworks Adventures in Theatre has allowed the story of Ethel to come to life by creating a play around the life of Ethel. Students have been involved in the whole process, from research to enacting the life of Ethel.”

Later this month, the all-female cast from Newfield School will take to the stage with a unique performance written by Paul Whitfield, of WAT, in collaboration with CPRE PDSY. Inspired by the charity’s centenary, the play uses storytelling and physical theatre to tell Ethel’s story.

WAT’s director, Gertie Whitfield expresses her admiration for the cast by saying; “I think Ethel would have been proud of how the cast are working with great commitment, enthusiasm and as a supportive team. They have had an enormous input into the shaping of the production and its recycle/reuse ethic wherever possible.”

This work has been made thanks to EMR, Newfield School, High Peak, Hope Valley Community Rail Partnership, Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust and the British Agricultural History Society.