Shire Brook Valley
Public art | Interpretation design | Copywriting | Print design
Welcoming interpretation for a 100-acre nature reserve
Sheffield City Council asked us to develop welcoming and coherent interpretation across Shire Brook Valley Nature Reserve, as part of their government-funded Species Survival project.
Our public art, interpretation and wayfinding needed to not only enhance the 100-acre site and welcome visitors, but also be resistant to weather and vandalism. As such, we created sculptures from powder-coated steel – a tough, durable option that we could also tie in with the site’s pre-existing colour scheme to subtly brighten the landscape.
A community-first approach
A lot of passionate people are involved in the site, so a collaborative approach was really important. We got to know the rangers and volunteers, and their love for this special place really rubbed off on us. We spent a lot of time walking the valley’s paths, learning about its industrial past, taking in its sights and sounds. We turned our research and the group’s knowledge into copy for interpretation panels and child-friendly facts on the sculptures.
We brought on board Dyson Signs to produce the interpretation panels and Steel Line to create the sculptures (that’s their incredible workshop in the photo below!) – making it all a very made in Sheffield project.
“Eleven are experts at weaving multiple threads together such as nature, heritage and community to create rich, unique outcomes that are well suited to the environment.”
Meghan Tipping, Activity and Engagement Officer Activity and Engagement Officer, Sheffield City Council
Print elements
We created an activity sheet for local schoolchildren, inviting their input into the sculpture designs.
We also designed a Teasel Trail, featuring a map of suggested routes through the site, alongside mindful prompts to follow along the way.
