17 December 2008
Greater Morpeth Development Trust
PRESS RELEASE
Signs of the times will highlight Morpeth's attractions
New signs and interpretation boards to help local people as well as visitors find their way round Morpeth's many attractions, will start going up in and around the town next year.
With funding from the Castles, Woods and Water project as well as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Greater Morpeth Development Trust (GMDT) is planning to make the wealth of local heritage attractions, woodland, riverside and country walks around Morpeth, even more accessible and interesting to people of all ages.
The Trust will be working with Castle Morpeth Borough Council, Northumberland County Council, Morpeth Town Council, Groundwork Northumberland and Northumberland Tourism to deliver the project
GMDT officials working with Metrodesign and Media Ltd are looking to refresh or renew existing signage and interpretation boards to help people find their way more easily around the sites and walks and learn even more about what they can see and find there.
Fingerpost signs, wall mounted or free-standing boards, interactive devices such as talking posts and raised designs children will be able to trace over are just some of the ideas currently being explored.
The new signs and interpretation panels will also be themed – blue for Morpeth town, green for country and brown for heritage sites.
Gemma Gadomski, GMDT Project Manager, says the first phase of the project will be concentrating on improving signs and displays in Mafeking Park, the Tommy's Field footpath walk leading out of Morpeth along the banks of the River Wansbeck, and the High Stanners area of the town.
"One exciting idea for the High Stanners area is for a free-standing glass panel depicting Admiral Lord Collingwood's summerhouse in all its original glory," said Gemma.
"We are also looking at ways to sympathetically enhance the interpretation of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison's grave and St Mary's Churchyard, which will tie in with the joint education project involving Beamish and Woodhorn museums, and the completed restoration to the grave by the working group which includes GMDT, the Borough, Town and County councils and St Mary's Church.
"It is the Trust's intention to get local people involved in a lot of the signage programme with local artist John Caffrey already providing the artwork for the Tommy's Field interpretation panel."
GMDT is also working with Castle Morpeth Borough Council to complete interpretation work in the Borough woods and Scotch Gill Woods.
"There is so much for people to see and do around Morpeth, and this project should make visiting the town and finding out about its heritage an even more rewarding experience for residents and visitors alike," said Gemma.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:- Ian Leech
GMDT Press Contact on 079 681 02547 |
