Vision for the Old Railway Line

During Summer 2023 we were commissioned to develop a community led vision for an old railway line connecting two communities, Ravenscliffe and Fagley. After a series of pop ups, walkshops and community listening exercises we hosted a design workshop to develop ideas together, not to reimagine this nature rich space, but to understand what interventions could make the path more accessible and enjoyable for all. Following a creative design workshop we developed the ideas into a Vision booklet, showcasing ideas and specific locations for interventions along the line as well as a strategy for core path improvements.

In October 2023 we held a community vote to decide which of the ideas emerging out of the collaborative design process we should take forward to the testing phase. Creating a dinosaur trail was the clear front runner and we installed the trail along the railway line during October half term. Hugely popular with children and parents locally the dinosaurs were slowly discovered to spell out a secret clue unlocking treasure to be collected from The Gateway Centre. The prototyping showed us that there is huge appetite locally to activate the railway line in family friendly, creative ways and we’re now on the lookout for further funding opportunities to continue locally led activation as well as working towards achieving elements of the longer term community led vision.

This scoping project was funded by JU:MP a Sport England local delivery pilot in Bradford in partnership with the NHS.