The Reader - Tales & Trails
The Trails & Tales experience is a way for visitors of all ages to connect with their surroundings as they explore the historic home of The Reader charity, Calderstones park.
The project involved working closely with the programmes team at The Reader to create an Identity and Interactive Web App that allows visitors to access the map using a smartphone or tablet to scan QR codes on several wooden posts installed around the park. As visitors explore each stop, the digital Trails & Tales map acts as a guide in hand and provides information about the points of historical interest in the park, using audio recordings and photographs.
The Heritage Trail has been developed using stories and memories from the local community and materials from The Reader's archive. On this trail, visitors can learn about what life used to be like in Calderstones Park and the Mansion House, as well as enjoying fascinating titbits and tales from volunteers and staff, all intertwined with carefully selected pieces of literature from authors including Jane Austen, Anton Chekov, Matsuo Bashō and George Orwell.
The Literature Trail features familiar voices from some of The Reader's patrons and supporters, including actors Maxine Peake and Claire Skinner, and writers Robert MacFarlane and Roger Robinson, as they read poems and extracts from plays at poignant positions in the park.
Trails & Tales has been developed as a response to the need for people to access self-directed, outdoor activity during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. The map not only exists to help people learn more about the history of Calderstones Park, the Calder Stones and the Mansion House, but also as a way for people to access and enjoy great literature in the great outdoors.
Anna Farrell Head of Programmes“Rob and his team really listened to our brief and helped us build something that was thoughtful, creative and spot on for our brand. Rob got to understand quite quickly the nuances that make our organisation what it is, which made the creative process really collaborative and resulted in something we can feel really proud of. It’s clear Raw is passionate about what they do and this shows throughout.”