About the trail
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, this new trail is a major milestone in a four-year partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust and landowner, Cumberland Council.
The trail has been shaped by local people, who shared their local knowledge and memories of Engine Lonning's railway past to help inform the features and contributed to the creation of artwork now displayed along the route.
The trail has upgraded paths to make it easier for people with pushchairs and wheelchairs to use and enjoy the site, along with rest-a-while places created for people to pause on their stroll. Metal sculptures forged by lead artist, Chris Brammall of CB Arts, stone carvings by Tony Crellin, and mosaics by Helen Clues celebrate the site’s Roman, railway and natural heritage along the way.
Pupils from St Bede’s, Newtown and Belle Vue Primary schools, students at Beaumont College, Heathlands Cumbria and The Lookout Community Hub helped with the creation of mosaic artworks depicting local wildlife as part of workshops led by local artist, Helen Clues.
Celebration event to mark the trail’s completion
To mark the completion of the trail, we hosted a special event where a steel 3D model of the old ‘Canal Shed’ railyard was unveiled by Robert Dawson and Terry Roberts; ‘firemen’ employed to tend the boilers on steam locomotives serviced and repaired at Canal Shed until the railyard’s closure in 1963.
Visitors enjoyed stone carving demonstrations by stone mason Tony Crellin, mosaic-making, nature-based art with Peter Hunter, and discovering nature with Cumbria Biodiversity Data Centre. Families explored the trail using a special Wild Woodlands map, challenging them to find all 15 creatures featured in the colourful mosaics and metal sculptures around the route.
The map is free to download from our website. www.edenriverstrust.org.uk/library/engine-lonning-woodland
Tania Crockett, our Outdoor Learning Manager and manager of the Engine Lonning project said,
“We were delighted to meet so many people and to hear such positive feedback about improvements to the trail around Engine Lonning. It’s clear that the improved access is enabling more people to enjoy the site. I’ve been struck by how many families, residents and runners I’ve seen around the site, making use of resting places and enjoying this tranquil space.
“On behalf of Eden Rivers Trust and myself, I would like to thank the talented artists in metal, mosaic and stone for your amazing contributions to the project. The communities who have helped shape and support this project and to partners such as The Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust who have supported us throughout the project.
“And finally, all the amazing volunteers who have contributed hundreds of hours of their time in helping us deliver this project here at Engine Lonning. Pulling invasive Himalayan balsam, clearing pathways, delivering leaflets and supporting us throughout this project. Many have joined us today to enable us to deliver this wonderful event.”
The work at Engine Lonning has been delivered by Eden Rivers Trust in partnership with Cumberland Council as part of the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by ERT with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
