The Ivel Project began with a reflective question, “How does the river carry the memories of the people, places and lives of those who have lived close to its banks, and how can we rediscover them?

The River Ivel has been a part of life in Sandy for generations. It has seen people and nature grow, work, play, fish, walk, and make memories along its banks. For those who are lucky enough to live here, the river is not just a place to cross over on the way to the CoOp, it is part of our identity and community history.

The Ivel project has the hope of rediscovering all those memories and preserving them as a living archive for the community here today, and for those who will call the area home in the future.  It will be a place to discover its heritage, reflect on its past and add their own memories to its continuing story.

From handmade memories to digital memories

At the heart of this project is the Ivel Project Memory Box.  A handmade object inspired by traditional crafts and the importance of keeping things made by hand.

The box represents the handmade crafts that anglers relied upon in the past.  Your mobile phone represents the present and future.

Together, they create a bridge between traditional community memories and the digital world.

Through the website, all photographs, videos and shared stories will be collected and preserved, allowing today’s community to contribute to a record that future generations can rediscover.

A living community archive

The Ivel Project is not intended to be a history book written by one person. It is intended to become a living archive created by the people who have lived close to the river. We are interested in the stories that may otherwise disappear: old photographs, family memories, local traditions, forgotten places, stories about the river, traditional skills and handmade crafts, as well as the everyday experiences that make a community unique.

Small memories can become an important part of a much bigger story.

Preserving the past for the future

The project is still in its early stages and will grow through the contributions and ideas of all those who live in this tight knit community.

The hope is that, over time, the Ivel Project will help preserve not only the history of the River Ivel, but also the character, feelings and memories of the communities that have grown alongside it.

The river remembers. Through the Ivel Project, we can help make sure that its stories are remembered too..