Divergently Together presents: Unmasking Nature, a rich outdoor journey
Come, stim with nature: touch grass, hum to the rhythm of dappled light, eat dirt. Trust your senses
10th September 2025: A sensory walking event co-created by a community of cross-border neurodivergent collaborators, led by artist AlanJames Burns with Insight Research Ireland Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University takes place at Cavan Burren Park, Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopar on the 10th September 2025.
Awash with texture and tiny details, Unmasking Nature’s guided geopark experience is shaped by sensory cues, rather than traditional mapping techniques. This bold, original project is a permission slip to step away from societal systems that cage us.
All are invited to Unmasking Nature’s once-off, free event exploring joyful ways of engaging with the natural world. Co-designed with neurodivergent people who came together as a community over several months, the walk route takes inspiration from their special interests and is created with disabled participants in mind. Opportunities to experience their creative responses to the site include ‘deep dive’ information points, in addition to the insights of professionals and experts in the areas of fungi, food foraging and biophilia.
At its core, Unmasking Nature asks, “What does it mean to be neurodivergent in nature?”. Across this event we celebrate people’s connection to nature through stimming and emotional cartography. By embracing feel-good, intuitive explorations to the geopark’s deeply interconnected sensory landscape, the project invites event participants to engage with themes such as biodiversity and more-than-human communication (including with plants, animals and inanimate elements) through an inclusive, neurodivergent lens.
‘As a neurodivergent artist, I see first-hand the power of thinking differently. It’s through imagination, creativity and coming together as a community that we can shape a more inclusive and sustainable future’ AlanJames Burns, Lead Artist, ‘Unmasking Nature’
‘We are delighted to collaborate with the Cavan Burren Park at Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark which spans the border between Cavan County Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. It features unique geological formations, rich biodiversity, cultural heritage sites, and promotes conservation, education and sustainable tourism. This location has significantly influenced the development of Unmasking Nature, which is rooted in lived experience, sensory regulation and the deep, brain-massaging focus of neurodivergent passions.
Event location and essential info
Where: Cavan Burren Park, Blacklion, Co. Cavan, Google Maps location
When: Wednesday 10th September 2025
Arrive at 5:30pm, Event starts at 6pm
Duration: 50 minutes approximately. Participants can partake at their own pace.
Free event, booking required: Booking form
Food and drinks: Light refreshments provided
Accessibility: Accessibility is a priority for us. This event includes:
Wheelchair accessibility
British Sign Language (BSL)
Irish Sign Language (ISL)
Audio Description (AD)
Dedicated Sensory Area on-site, available for anyone to use during the event
Check out our website for access information: https://www.alanjamesburns.com/unmasking/
Please let us know when booking if you require any other accessibility accommodations.