Barefoot Trail (Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project)

Mining Heritage Project BAREFOOT TRAIL BRIEF
BACKGROUND
The Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project (TVMHP) is installing a network of trails on the Devon side of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The TVMHP aims to conserve and link a number of mining and heritage sites and is in the process of creating access to sites not previously open to the public and establish approximately 20km of new or improved trails for people to explore the historic landscape. Through its activities, the project will promote a better understanding of the Tamar Valley’s heritage, through community, interpretation, education and arts activities.

Following the success of last years first ever Tamar Trails festival, celebrating the great outdoors in the Tamar Valley AONB and the opening of the first phase of the Tamar Trails, work is underway for the second Festival this year. The Festival takes place over 10 days from Saturday 24th October to Sunday 1 November.
As part of this year’s Festival we would like to invite people to take their shoes and socks off and experience the textures of the Tamar Valley between their toes and on their soles through the installation of a temporary barefoot trail. The TVMHP would like to hear proposals from a creator who feels they can lead and implement the installation of this sensory experience in time for the Trails Festival.
For more information about the AONB please visit www.tamarvalley.org.uk

THE BRIEF
River mud, reed, granite, copper, straw, logs, grass, bark, dressing floors, pebbles, leaves?

The exact location of the trail is to be decided, but we are currently considering the picnic area at Bedford Sawmills (the main entrance and car park to the new trails network), or at Morwellham Quay. This is up for discussion with the chosen creator as they may have ideas themselves, however it does need to be an accessible and public location that links to the new trail network in some way.

We are not aiming to achieve a massive length of trail, but a short loop or stretch of between 20 and 30 metres that offers a fun experience to interpret the surfaces and character of the Valley.
There is a requirement that the trail will be robust enough to last the throughout the ten day Festival. There is also the need for it to be self led as their will little staff time available to oversee it permanently. However, there will be some staff time available to refresh surfaces if need be at some point, again this is negotiable and of course dependent on the chosen surfaces.

It will need to appeal to all ages and many abilities as possible. Health and safety of users is a paramount consideration so please bear this in mind when you consider what surfaces you would propose and how it you would construct it. Thought should be given to footwear storage and, depending on the surfaces/experiences included within the proposal, foot cleaning facilities.

For a full copy of the brief please contact Fran Walker at fwalker@tamarvalley.org.uk

For more information visit http://www.tamarvalley.org.uk/