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By installing a series of benches with floral planters along a route into Weston Super Mare’s Town Centre, this project would promote healthy living by providing a stimulating walk into the centre. Questions on the benches would also engage walkers with the local facts and history.

A series of 7 benches were installed along the main walking route into town, from a large car and coach park to the Floral Clock. Each bench included a plaque with a question about the local area, provided by the Year 5 children of Walliscote Road, and the next bench along in the series would provide the answer, as checked by the local museum.

 The project was successful in pulling together a wide variety of community groups, with the work being delivered through collaboration with Age Concern and North Somerset’s Partnerships for Older Peoples Projects (POPP). Volunteering events allowed local people to develop their gardening skills. The Weston Town Partnership has now taken responsibility for maintaining the benches and planters while Weston in Bloom will provide annual replanting. Two M&S employees went to the opening event, with local newspapers and BBC Points West also covering the unveiling.

The end result is that there is now a much more attractive route for residents and tourists to walk into the centre of Weston Super Mare. The trail also increases education and awareness regarding the local area. The plaques have already received positive feedback from one resident who said that the trail had taught them a lot they didn’t know about their hometown. The maintenance of the benches and plants provide volunteering opportunities in the future and will continue to bring the community together. Because the route starts at a large car park just outside the town, we hope that over time it will encourage fewer people to drive all the way into Weston Super Mare and therefore reduce the CO2 emissions of the area.

Town centre manager Steve Townsend worked on the project and is delighted with the result: "The project has really benefited the local community as well as visitors to the area. The benches are very well-used - people sit to take a rest, eat their lunch or just enjoy the general outlook, thanks to the floral displays.”