Using Art To Connect More People In Burnage With Nature

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Southway Housing Trust, an age friendly walking route will be created across key sites in the Burnage area.

Alongside the landscape improvement works taking place as part of the Resilient River Valleys project, Groundwork GM and Southway Housing colleagues have been hosting environmental activities and events that engage and educate residents on the benefits of their local green spaces.

Most recently, between May-August 2022, the team have been supporting local people with the creation of art pieces which will feature as part of the age friendly Burnage Trail, enhancing the green spaces and fostering a sense of local ownership.

Over the past two years many local people have felt disconnected from their neighbours however the local green spaces have acted as a consistent place for connectivity; providing a space where children can play and older residents can access greenery on their doorstep. There is a real appetite to build on this and bring the community in Burnage even closer together.

Groundwork GM and Southway Housing colleagues have supported 17 art and craft events across the Burnage area both in community centre settings and on the green spaces outside of people’s homes.
A wide range of people have attended the events including families, older residents, and flurries of young people.

All workshops have prioritised the use of sustainable materials, providing an opportunity to discuss the importance of rethinking waste and exploring the links between creative practices and environmental education.
As a result, the community has produced many artworks for the trail, ranging from bird boxes, recycled material mosaics and willow art, facilitated by Burnage’s local willow artist, Melissa.

The artwork will feature along the trail in areas such as Green End Road, Kingsway Crescent and Moorcroft Drive. The artwork will be unveiled in November 2022 with a map created highlighting the artworks’ locations.

“This has been really peaceful. I’ll look forward to seeing my art on the trail”

“It would be lovely to see more art round here. More murals or colourful walls to brighten things up”

“We walk past here nearly every day, so I can’t wait to see our bird house up in the trees!”