Artists create music and murals for nature trail

Artists have come together to create music and murals as part of a new nature trail.

The Salisbury River Park's Artwork Trail, in Wiltshire, has been created to celebrate the history of the area and highlight the local wildlife which calls the green space home.

Spots on the trail include fish-inspired picnic benches by local artist Zac Newham, a dragonfly sculpture by Jane Edden and drawings by illustrator Francesca McLean.

Clare Christopher, from Studio Response, which was involved in the project, said each artist brought "their own distinct voice" to the trail "while responding to the shared themes of nature, community and place that define the River Park".

The Salisbury River Park is a £45m green corridor of public open space which runs alongside the river Avon. It was built to deliver flood risk mitigation for the city.

Christopher added: "The trail offers a gentle, inviting way for people to experience the artworks, encouraging people to move through the River Park at their own pace, notice the details of the landscape and enjoy the artworks in relation to the river environment around them."

A trail map has been created which links each piece of art, with a version available for children.

Other artwork includes a mural by Fred Fieber on the coach park toilet block and Tech Moon's mural on the central car park toilet block which celebrates animals that can be found in the area including Atlantic Salmon and European Otter.

Composer Karen Wimhurst has contributed eight musical pieces inspired by the River Park and the neighbouring Avon Valley Nature Reserve, which can be listened to along the trail.

The project was curated by public art commissioning organisation Studio Response, in partnership with Salisbury City Council. The map has been released by the Environment Agency (EA).

Andy Wallis, Salisbury River Park project lead at the EA, said the trail was created to "reconnect people with the rivers that flow through their city."

He added: "Each piece encourages visitors to look more closely at the wildlife and natural heritage found along our chalk streams, from the delicate wings of a mayfly to the otters and kingfishers that call this place home."

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