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Since acquiring the Cylinders estate at the end of 2006 Littoral has been developing a programme of schools and community involvement projects both in association with the Merz Barn and in Ambleside and the near-by villages of Chapel Stile and Grasmere.
The educational strand, working with Langdale, Grasmere and Ambleside primary schools, aims to build up the potential of Cylinders as a multi-purpose environmental and creative resource for use by local schools and young people. The project is oordinated by Littoral, originally with artist Pat Smith and led by Langdale School which, under their enterprising Head Teacher Mark Squires, has signed a contract with the trust for the children to act as the educational consultants to the project, in partnership with the new educational worker, artist Rob Fraser.
Projects developed recently by the children with Littoral include; the Snake Stick project; a collage art project; the magic Merz fence, a Damien Hirst Spin painting project; a community radio/local oral history project. 
Merzweg; exhibition of snake stick art works by local children 
Snake stick sculpture, above Merz Barn entrance
Longer term plans
1. KINDER-MERZBAU a two year schools' Merzbau and Modern Architecture research and exhibition project to be developed as an international partnership involving schools in Norway, Germany, England and in Africa.
2. Development of a pilot urban - rural schools' cultural exchange programme as a partnership linking Langdale School with inner city Cheetham Community School, which has children mainly from Muslim backgrounds and from new urban immigrant communities.
3. Development of a sustainable food, crafts and energy project on site at Cylinders, involving willow growing, basket making and the restoration of the estate's gardens and horticulture collections;
4. Local Voices - Local Skills, an arts and local history study of the gunpowder, coppice and charcoal making traditions of the Langdale valley, and related community history, cultural and oral traditions.
Charcoal making workshops in the woods
Arts Schools' residential projects at the Merz Barn
Art students from the Slade School of Art and the Royal College of Art have been pioneering one week residencies for MA students at the Merz Barn. These will be expanded and offered to other art schools in the coming years, and there also plans for a student summer work camp at Cylinders commencing in July 2011. 
Untitled (Celebration Hole), 2008
A collaborative project by The Slade MA Sculpture group, initiated by Sion Parkinson (hole, slate, timber, ash, bunting, fireworks)
Sound installation outside the Merz Barn, autumn 2008.
Artist Dan Fox.
Photo Adam James.
Copyright 2011 by LITTORAL. All rights reserved. LITTORAL is a non-profit arts trust which promotes new creative partnerships, critical art practices and cultural strategies in response to issues about social, environmental and economic change. LITTORAL 42, Lodge Mill Lane, Turn Village, Ramsbottom BL0 0RW, UK. Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1706 827 961 e-mail:Ian@littoral.org.uk.