An octopus escaping from a skatepark, a group of gossiping blades of grass, and slimy gunk slithering off a park bench.
These are just three of the scenarios that artist Sarah Taylor Silverwood developed with Yr 5/6 pupil’s at Fordbridge Primary School for Adventure Awaits, an interactive Walking Map of Chelmsley Wood.
Adventure Awaits is part of Link + Shift, a community project supported by West Midlands Railways which takes people on journeys through Chelmsley Wood, uncovering new and unexpected stories, animating the area and encouraging residents and visitors to look at where they are from a different perspective.
Sarah worked with a group of budding artists from Fordbridge Community Primary School to explore alternative stories about the local landscape through a series of activities including; walking storytelling workshops, comic making and co-designing an interactive illustrated map of the area.
Over the course of the project, Sarah made a cartoon illustrating the alternative landmarks and weird and wonderful imaginary characters created by the children.
The Link + Shift Artists Walks project aims to support communities to tell their own stories and collectively re-imagine the place in which they live.
This project is supported by West Midlands Railway @WestMidRailway
Fordbridge Community Primary School @fordbridge2013
You can pick up a copy of the map from Meriden Adventure Playground (MAPA) in Meriden Park, Chelmsley Wood.
