Icecream have worked and are still working with the Rural Development Trust (formerly CAVLP) across multiple iterations of ‘Make Your Way’ since 2017. The project developed active travel trails, printed maps, interpretation, benches, wayfinding, artwork installations, and a bespoke digital platform with a unique brand identity that encourage people not only to explore walking and cycling trails but the arts and heritage of places across Lanarkshire.
Above, Left: ‘Belvedere bench’, a round, powder coated, steel form located at an ancient viewpoint across the Avon Valley. The bench interpreted the landscape through its colours, shape - a direct reference to groundworks shown on the ‘Roy Lowlands Map Series (1752 - 55).
Above, right: A bench showing a pattern on the top which reflects the rig and furrow system in the surrounding fields according to older OS maps, some of which is still visible.
We devised and implemented diverse engagement programmes that involved the public, various groups and over 600 primary school children, utilising a creative, playful approach. Activities included artist-led workshops, active travel workshops, heritage walks, and mapping sessions, all designed to get people noticing their local area afresh, sharing local information, and exploring routes they had never visited or areas with 'hidden' local heritage stories.
These workshops featured bespoke-made curious objects - such as periscopes and walking sticks - allowing children and adults to look at things in a new way and start conversations about the locality and its heritage.
The experience and information garnered from the artist-led workshop programmes have been used to establish the different active travel trails, installations and artworks, as well as archive and heritage information on the digital trails and mobile app.
A dedicated online platform hosts interactive and printable trail maps, active travel resources, local information, toolkits and heritage trail points. The Client and key stakeholders can upload and update online trails, add trail points, heritage and local information, and photographs of local trails.
