River Parrett Trail

Arts & Crafts Along the Trail

Along the Trail, certain stiles, seats and bridges have been made especially. The Trail Project has a tradition of artists working with local people and using local materials to create work that explores themes in the landscape. Collaborative artists have led projects with schools, and in the community help to create special events as well as produce poetry and music linked to the Trail. At the Langport and River Parrett Visitor Centre, you can see some of this work.

South Perrott: Seat made from local oak by carpenter and craftsperson Karen Hansen. Karen uses the natural shape of the wood to achieve her elegant designs. You will find some gates by Karen on your way into South Perrott from the south.

There are nesting places for birds in this structure, but this giant egg is made from oak.

One of two stiles made by Andrew Hutchins using massive timber elements.

Steart Tower Bird Hide: a collaborative project between architect Wilf Burton and artist Tony Eastman at the Bridgwater Bay Nature Reserve. A cooperative project between English Nature and the Parrett Trail Partnership, it was built using native softwoods by Westwind Oak Constructions.

Model showing bridge that was installed in Cannington College

Bridgwater: Through writing workshops poet Tony Charles worked with schools, and other groups from the Bridgwater community, to consider and express the hard and skilful work that went into the making of the Albert Street Cutting 150 years ago. Tony distilled and constructed a poem from the work which was then inscribed onto the great timber beams that brace the cutting by lettercutter Andrew Whittle (pictured). A collaborative project with British Waterways.

One of the stiles made by Keith Rand working with students from Cannington College.

Combwich Area: seat on the river bank by Neil Purcell. Neil has worked on bridge handrails and other stiles in the Cannington area.

Seat made from local oak by carpenter and craftsperson Karen Hansen

South Perrott: Working with local children, Evie Body composed and then carved this panel in Hamstone, now installed into a bridge over the Parrett, representing the local landscape and its ecology.

Haselbury New Bridge: Andrew Hutchins and Paul Hately used a range of local timbers - larch, cedar, yew, macrocarpa, acacia - all from a thirty mile radius of the bridge site and all used appropriately within the construction.

One of two stiles made by Andrew Hutchins

Stathe Bridge: One of four living willow cones woven by Clare Wilks, assisted by Natalie Silk. Clare used many different willow varieties in the constructions with different coloured skins, the uprights were pushed into the ground - the willow has now rooted and sprouted. Over the next few years the new growth will either be trimmed or woven back into the structure. In time the willow shoots will fuse together; the pieces will become willow trees with woven trunks.

Model showing bridge that was installed in Cannington College (now part of Bridgwater College) grounds by artist Keith Rand, who had an artist residence at the college where he worked with students to design new gates and stiles.

One of the stiles made by Keith Rand working with students from Cannington College. Keith is the artist/craftsperson in residence at the college. He is working on a range of countryside furniture using local timbers. These stiles with a small bridge will allow an alternative route from the Parrett Trail through the college grounds to link back to the trail on the river bank. Keith will also be making some more sculptural features for the trail in the future.

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