From May to September in 2018 we worked in partnership with Eden Rivers Trust and Kirkby Stephen Community Arts to delivery a project that would bring the commmunity together to celebrate the River Eden in Kirkby Stephen. With the help of the commmunty we created a River Trail Map that could be used by anyone wanting to spend time by the river as a guide and an invitation to explore and enjoy this beautiful natural resource.
A programme of events was created to engage, promote and inspire people to visit the river, we offered many different types activities from sounds walks lead by Artist Dan Fox to river dipping and indentification from Eden River Trust staff, to a wave of several hundred willow fish made by the local primary school children and installed by the river over the Summer. The 0-5yrs had an outdoor play session by Frank’s bridge, there was a massive bring and share community picnic with over a hundred people attending and a “duck cafe” was used to promote some healthy feeding for the local duck population.
All events were free and funded by Eden River Trust via the Heritage Lottery Fund, and this meant that lots of people were able to drop in and enjoy the fun. Considering the rural situation of Kirkby Stephen the project reached over 500 people!
Stomping Ground loves anything that encourages everyone to be more playful, so spending time by the river in the sunshine making boats, feeding ducks, splashing about, building stone towers to knock down again and eating picnics makes us very happy!
