A ONE-OFF outdoor trail inspired by its local community is once again taking centre stage as a visitor attraction this summer. Lucy Wood reports:
The Perch Here project in Sutton Bridge and Wingland celebrates the unique characteristics of the area known as the gateway to Lincolnshire. Quirky seats and bespoke artwork along the riverbank act as stand-out features within the landscape, celebrating its history, community and art.
The programme was initially conceived to enhance the environment for the use and enjoyment of all and to improve well-being through the increased use of routes and trails. As well as promoting nearby amenities and moorings, it also aimed to connect residential areas with its riverside and to its wider position on the King Charles III England Coast Path.
The first phase centred around free carving workshops in the Sutton Bridge area with the aptly named Peter Tree, a master craftsman and designer from Boston, also in the east coast county. Peter is the UK’s premier maker of Windsor chairs.
Participants helped to carve six waymarkers that incorporated small seats for people to ‘perch on,’ the designs reflecting the heritage and stories that people from the area shared during several weeks of the workshops on the Sutton Bridge Green.
The second phase of the project focused on improving the physical and visual links between the riverside, bridge, moorings and village centre. The pedestrian improvements included new steps down from the riverbank near the bridge, a new ramp near the moorings and new dropped kerbs on the adjacent road.
The Perch Here trail was officially launched last July, as part of the Sutton Bridge Place Making Scheme. Now fully established, visitors and locals alike are encouraged to wander along the riverbank to discover the area’s farming and agricultural connections and explore the waterways. Signs incorporating QR codes guide visitors along the trail.
