Louis Masai in Taunton. Photo: Jon England

Somerset Art Works was delighted to work in collaboration with Somerset Wildlife Trust on the Routes to the River Tone Project in 2015, engaging Taunton communities in creative projects, events and activities, to explore nature, appreciate wildlife, for health and wellbeing.

Artists appointed in 2015 included: nature street artist Louis Masai painting outdoor spaces, Melanie Tomlinson working on a pop-up guerrilla art trail with local residents, Angela Morley making sculpture for the trail through community workshops and artist Michael Fairfax working in public spaces.

Download a map of the North Taunton Art Trail Click here

Watch these short films with project highlights:

Routes to the River Tone overview Click Here (5 mins)

Louis Masai film Click here (2:30 mins)

Hedgehog timelapse Click here (1 min)

Pride in Priorswood workshops Click here (2 mins)

Hedgehog at Grange Drive, Taunton

Hedgehog populations have decreased from over 30 million to just two million in 60 years

Bees on Cheddon Road, Taunton

no food for bees, no food for humans...

Water voles on the Co-op Eastwick Road, Taunton

9 out of 10 water voles have disappeared in my lifetime

Bat on Grange Drive, Taunton

Bats have been on this planet for over 5o million years and now current populations are threatened

Louis Masai Work in Progress

Giant hedgehog takes shape

A huge amount of interest from passers by and local residents

A very warm welcome for Louis' work in North Taunton

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Routes to the River Tone is a three year project, funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund, and led by Somerset Wildlife Trust, which aims to encourage and support the communities of Taunton to explore the lush green spaces and tranquil blue waters of the town and meet some of the amazing wildlife that lives there, wildlife that the art programme seeks to highlight.  For more information click here

SAW is arts partner for North Taunton work in 2015, developing and overseeing a creative programme as part of Our Place project delivery in North Taunton, funded by The People’s Health Trust and Taunton Deane Borough Council. Further artists will be appointed as plans develop and we are fundraising to continue this partnership through 2016 and beyond.  Keep an eye on this page for further updates coming soon.

SAW Logo MAIN CMYK   SWT
Photography: Jon England, Alistair Stuart-Campbell