Bringing some colour to Marple Town Centre!
Visitors to Marple District Centre may notice the colourful benefits of a community project initiated by Marple Vision Team's Action Plan that's been going on behind the scenes for several months.
In the summer of 2024 the Marple Vision Team, working with Marple Men In Sheds and Helen Middleton Studios, and supported by UK Shared Prosperity Funding (part of Levelling Up), has completed phase one of a decorative art trail in Marple District Centre with a number of unique planters featuring artwork designed by local school children.
Helen Middleton with Marple Men In Sheds members
Planters built by Marple Men In Sheds
The incredibly productive Marple Men In Sheds were tasked with designing, building and installing the wooden planters. In addition to creating the ten shop-front planters, the Men In Sheds team has also completely refurbished the two large and tired looking planters that have been in the town centre for many years, giving them a fantastic new lease of life.
Artwork with local children by Helen Middleton Studios
Artwork design was led by Helen, of Helen Middleton Studios, who is becoming well known for her work on many different collaborative art projects around the town. On this occasion Helen engaged with children from All Saints', Mellor and St. Mary's Primary Schools to create the designs that have been incorporated into the laser-cut plaques attached to the planters.
Helen would love to include other schools during the next phase.
Planting by The Flower House Marple
The wonderfully colourful planting was added by Zoe, owner of the new Market Street shop “The Flower House”, ably assisted by her lovely mum, to give a fabulous finishing touch to the new planters.
Locations of the 10 Phase One planters are: Baked by Leah | Dental Care @62 | Forever Yours Bridal | Glow Beauty Clinic (x2) | Icing On The Cake | S&T Wealth Management | Sew In | SVC Lighting and Electrical | The Flower House.
What's next?
A new UKSPF grant of £5,000 has recently been awarded to Marple District Centre for 2024/25 and the Marple Vision Team will be discussing the possiblity of extending the artwork and planter trail to shops on Derby Way and Stockport Road, so watch this space!
Follow this link for more information on Marple Vision Team and to get in touch.
Thanks and acknowledgements
Thank you to Marple Men In Sheds, Helen Middleton Studios, The Flower House Marple and UK Shared Prosperity Funding for helping to brighten up Marple District Centre. Thanks also to Carole Hill of Marple Community Hub Facebook group, Richard Daniels (Stockport Council), Helen Middleton, Pete Kelly and Tracy McGuinness-Kelly for your photos and help compiling this article.
