Guest Blog: Dr William Titley, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lancashire.
Dr William Titley is a Senior Lecturer for MA Fine Art at the University of Lancashire. Fidra first connected with Dr Titley following mutual concerns over the environmental impacts of artificial pitches. Dr Titley’s project, ‘The Curlew Way’, brings together community engagement, art, and environmental action, to highlight the importance of local greenspaces, such as grass football pitches, for wildlife. We’re delighted to share more on Dr Titley’s work in this guest blog.
A plastic pollutant threat to our natural heritage
In the heart of East Lancashire, I’ve spent my career weaving art into the fabric of everyday life. Whether through sound, sculpture, performance, photography, painting, or film, my work has always been driven by intimate encounters with people, places, and the environment. Since the 1990s, I’ve developed projects that engage with the people and wildlife of Pendle, where I’ve lived all my life.
My current project, The Curlew Way, which brought together these strands of art, community, and environmental action, was made possible by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The University of Lancashire. We were proud to partner with the RSPB and The Forest of Bowland National Landscape.
In 2024, we collaborated with Colne Park High School to explore and celebrate its relationships with the environment and wildlife across Lancashire. We worked with a group of Year 10 (aged 14-15 years) pupils and their art tutors and, through a series of workshops and site visits, took a closer look at the local wildlife that shares the school sports field. We discovered that over 12 endangered and near-threatened species used the football pitch as a safe space, with some migratory species such as the Curlew and Oystercatcher depending on it to breed and raise chicks. The project partners and I were delighted at the prospect of the school embracing and documenting the natural richness of the grounds and developing this inadvertently special relationship into a guide for other schools and organisations to emulate.
However, what began as a hopeful project quickly became considerably more unsettling for the participants. After our final workshop at the school, they submitted plans to install a 3G artificial pitch, a plastic surface marketed as a modern sports solution to wet weather, which forced us to confront the difficult truths of education in a fossil-fuel-driven economy. Instead of revealing the school’s harmonious relationship with nature, the project effectively positioned itself to reveal an ongoing pollutant threat to our natural heritage.
Match Fit – A screen print on the back of a vintage Subbuteo pitch, turned into a protest flag against the plastic pitch application – the site of the proposed pitch in the background
The true impact of artificial pitches on our environment
It is easy to overlook the ecological value of our community sports fields in the UK. Yet, they have become part of our irreplaceable landscapes, ecosystems, and traditions that define our identity and connect us to the land. We must defend such sites from the threats posed by pollution and unchecked development. This turn of events in the project’s later stages shows how crucial education is not only to impart knowledge but also to instil sincere respect for the natural world and a sense of responsibility for its protection. The logic of installing a 3G artificial pitch makes sense only through a financial lens, i.e., as an opportunity to create income. When you consider the toxicity of the materials and the potential long-term harm to users, wildlife, and the environment, it defies the duty of care meant to protect pupils and our natural resources from harm.
With this in mind, the community fought the application. I joined a local group, The Pitch Protestors, and together we investigated the true impact of artificial pitches on our environment. We discovered that the proposed 3G pitch threatened not only the upland landscape and its vibrant biodiversity, but also the quality of life of the school community and its neighbours. Our research uncovered significant risks: habitat loss for local species, increased plastic pollution, and noise disturbances that would disrupt daily life.
As part of The Pitch Protestors, our investigations went beyond the immediate environmental and noise impacts. We uncovered significant concerns about the toxicity of the materials used in 3G pitches. These artificial surfaces contain so-called ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), that do not break down in the environment. Research has linked these chemicals to a range of health risks, as well as persistent pollution that threatens wildlife and contaminates soil and water, with effects that reach far beyond our local community. The global scale of damage caused by these substances brought a new level of urgency and purpose to The Curlew Way.
A creative protest
These findings galvanised pupils, staff, and residents alike. Everyone involved in The Curlew Way project was eager to utilise art as a voice for their concerns. What started as a celebration of our natural heritage became a creative protest; a project that sparked vital conversations and fostered a sense of shared purpose. The young people’s energy and commitment inspired the wider community, amplifying our campaign through their artwork, walking-and-talking events, and a project book that continues to circulate and raise awareness.
In March 2026, our efforts bore fruit when Pendle Borough Council voted to reject the 3G pitch application, citing the unacceptable noise impact on residents. Despite video evidence of the endangered species using the football pitch, they were not part of the rejection argument; in other words, they were not important factors, reflecting a planning policy ignorant of its environmental impacts. The rejection on the grounds of the noise impact alone always felt like a pause in the application process.
The story is far from over. The school is now considering a revised plan that promises noise-mitigation measures. If the endangered species had been included as a reason for rejection, it would have been much harder for the applicant to mitigate. The negative impact on the environment and wildlife is included as a reason to mitigate applications, and yet it was acknowledged but ignored.
We learned that schools (in this particular case, governed by The Apex Trust), serving as pillars of our communities, are struggling to balance educational integrity and a duty of care with a long-term commitment to financial sustainability.
Now You See Me – a future creature costume made from plastic litter blown into my garden from the school field
Valuing our natural heritage within education
Defending our natural heritage is not at odds with the mission of education; it is essential to it. Schools must nurture not just students, but also the landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage that make learning environments truly special. By valuing our natural heritage within education, we can empower young people to become informed stewards who can protect and celebrate the places they call home.
There are indeed more positive options for schools. With the introduction of the new GCSE in Natural History, Colne Park High School’s approach could become a model for others across the country. The recorded diversity on their playing field makes it an ideal site for fieldwork, research, and inspiration; not just for the resident pupils, but for visiting students from other schools enthusiastic to learn from such a rich natural resource. By showcasing their commitment to both education and ecological stewardship, they could attract and inspire a broader educational community to appreciate the vital importance of biodiversity in their own localities.
The legacy of The Curlew Way continues to reveal itself through other people’s actions. In Morecambe, plans include a mural depicting a figure dressed in a feathered costume made from crisp packets. In the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale Natural Landscapes have launched The Curlew Way Pilgrimage route, and another will launch in spring 2027 called The Malhamdale Curlew Way. The original Curlew Way route runs 62 miles from Colne Park High School, across Lancashire over the fells of the Forest of Bowland and down to the Curlew wintering grounds at Morecambe Bay.
As we share free copies of our project book, we endeavour to inspire other schools to take a more holistic view and to act as guardians of natural and educational legacies for future generations.
If you belong to a school or community organisation and would like a free copy of The Curlew Way project book, please email William at wdtitley@lancashire.ac.uk