A series of installations are helping bring a West Cumbrian woodland to life.
Walkmill Community Woodland, in Moresby Parks, officially unveiled the creative project this week.
It was created with the local community and draws on six oral history interviews, archival research by volunteers, and stories shared by local residents.
Panels and posts tell the history of the site, alongside details of the wildlife and natural habitats that can be seen today.
The Wilder Walkmill project, led by West Cumbria Rivers Trust, has been in development and delivery for four years.
Minerva Heritage was commissioned to deliver the interpretation elements, bringing together history and nature across Walkmill Community Woodland.
Over the past four years, West Cumbria Rivers Trust has carried out conservation and community projects at Walkmill Community Woodland, including river restoration, habitat and pond creation, and improving access for visitors by expanding the paths and resurfacing existing routes.
Highlights of the installations include:
- 29 interpretation features in six different styles, including small bollards, monoliths, lectern panels, and upright panels.
- Two story benches sharing the site’s history, alongside newly updated plaques on named benches.
- Tactile trail: 13 signs with animals, plants, trees can be found on site along with some features from the past. These signs are designed to be able to take rubbings from.
- Memorial feature – Standing on a footplate, visitors can see the outline of the old mine shafts as they would have appeared 136 to 65 years ago.
- Wayfinding and maps throughout the site to help visitors explore new and upgraded paths which have opened up the woodland for exploration.
Jenny Garbe, project manager, said: ” We’d like to give a huge thank you to Chris and Lisa from Minerva Heritage for their expertise and guidance in bringing the vision for Walkmill to life.
“We’re also incredibly grateful to our dedicated research volunteers, who delved into archives, uncovered photos, and captured local stories to shape the narrative we’re sharing.
“Finally, a heartfelt thank you to the people of Moresby Parks – your memories, stories and tales of Walkmill have truly brought this project to life. This installation is a true celebration of Walkmill Community Woodland and the people who care so passionately about it.”
The creative installations at Walkmill are fully accessible from surfaced paths. Multiple maps and wayfinding points help guide exploration, while the memorial feature offers a dramatic view into the site’s industrial past.
The project was made possible thanks for the Heritage Lottery Fund and its players, and the generous support of Sellafield Ltd through its SIX Social Impact Multiplied programme.
