Easter trails to spark ideas at Mount Oswald

A Durham community arts initiative is inviting families to explore local green spaces while helping shape their future use.

Creativity Works has partnered with the Banks Group and The Story to deliver Playful Paths, a series of outdoor sessions at Mount Oswald during the Easter holidays. 

The project will see families take part in creative trails and challenges designed to reimagine the landscape around the site.

Led by illustrator Nocciola The Drawer, participants will use natural materials to create temporary installations and map out playful routes across the area.

The initiative forms part of a wider creative programme exploring how green spaces can support learning, wellbeing and community engagement. 

Insights gathered will help inform future plans for the 1.75-hectare site behind The Story.

Jane Shaw, director of Creativity Works, said: “Playful Paths is open to anyone and has been specially designed to give local residents, families and students the chance to dream up future possibilities for The Story’s fantastic outdoor spaces 

“Nocciola The Drawer’s boundless imagination and enthusiasm make her the perfect choice to lead this fun-filled adventure through a springtime environment that will be bursting back into life, and we’d love to see lots of local families coming along to share their impressions and inspiration.”

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, added: “We’ve carried out lots of work to enhance the biodiversity and natural environment around the Mount Oswald site over more than a decade and are working to do even more.

“This project gives local people a great opportunity to get to know new parts of their local environment and we’re excited to see what ideas might come out of their explorations.”

The project builds on earlier engagement with residents and aligns with a developing masterplan that includes new play areas, planting schemes and improved pathways, aimed at enhancing the space for local families and visitors.

Ruth Chittenden, community engagement officer at The Story, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Creativity Works and the Banks Group on this creative and imaginative project, and are excited to see how the activities develop and how local residents respond to them.

“We are keen to expand the ways in which we use our green spaces and to continue to develop relationships with our neighbours around Mount Oswald.”

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