Our Bolsover Story
Creative direction | Public engagement | Copywriting | Interpretation design | Print
Public engagement projects to bring Our Bolsover Story to life
We love working on projects that make a difference to people and places. So we were over the moon when the folks at Our Bolsover Story – the place programme for Bolsover – got in touch.
The team were inspired by projects we’ve initiated inviting people to engage with Sheffield in creative ways (Our Favourite Places, Photomarathon Sheffield, Sheffield Modern, Sheffield Young Critics). They asked us to help them communicate the distinctive character of their town, encouraging people to look at Bolsover in a new light, and using creativity as a means of engagement.
Our Bolsover Story are managing a significant amount of government investment into regenerating the area. We presented the team with ideas that would put residents at the heart of what happens in their hometown as it embarks on this period of change, creating opportunities for local people to be part of the Bolsover story. Our projects with Our Bolsover Story aim to improve the public realm, showcase local attractions and support community connection.
Bolsover Through the Lens
Bolsover Through the Lens is a series of free, printed activity trails for all ages.
As Bolsover is home to an active camera club – dating back to 1952 – we decided to centre the trails around photography. This way, we could showcase the work of local photographers as well as show what makes the area unique. At the same time, we hoped to give people a reason to pick up their camera or phone, try out our tips, and get exploring.
We researched, wrote and designed four trails. Each centred around a different local attraction: the concrete paradise that is the new Bolsover Skatepark, coal mining heritage site Pleasley Pit, tranquil Carr Vale Nature Reserve, and the dramatic gorge of Creswell Crags. They included activities from wildlife-spotting to action photography.
It was a pleasure working with the friendly folk at Bolsover Camera Club – shout-outs to their members Annette Crook, Steve Bostock, Glyn Morris, Phil Newman, Trevor Hupton, Sara Hawkins and Mike Hawkins.
Dear Bolsover
Dear Bolsover invited people to reflect on the district and write a letter about what it means to them – and what they’d like to see happen in the future. We distributed letter-writing packs and collected responses in special branded letterboxes at heritage sites, cultural venues and schools.
The project aimed to raise awareness of the place programme and help the team shape their plans around the hopes and dreams of those who call Bolsover home.
We modelled Dear Bolsover on an earlier project of ours from a decade ago. As part of the University of Sheffield’s Festival of the Mind we produced a public engagement project, book and exhibition called A Letter to Sheffield, in collaboration with Dr Jonathan Ellis. We received some incredible letters as part of that project – ranging from the hilarious to the heartbreaking – so we were eager to see what Bolsover would come up with.
Once again, the letters we received were varied and imaginative – some made us smile, others really touched us. We brought the letters together in a free print publication and assets for social media.
Bolsover Loop
The Bolsover Loop is a 26-mile walking and cycling route through the distinctive landscapes where Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire meet.
We designed, wrote and produced corten steel interpretation boards for key sights along the route, detailing the area’s rich industrial and natural history. We designed signage, complete with a distinctive Loop waymarker. And we created a printed guide, inviting people to hop in and out of the loop near local villages and heritage attractions.
