Colourful Wildlife Spotted on Thamesmead Footbridge
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Georgie Benton, 13, puts the finishing touches to the bridge |
Young people from Thamesmead got the chance to turn a vandalised footbridge into a work of art during their school holidays.
Working with the London Borough of Bexley and Gallions Housing Association - who helped with recruitment and funding together with the Green Chain Project - the 11 young people created an exciting wildlife mural on the Abbey Road footbridge in Thamesmead.
London Arts group Positive Arts helped with a design for the graffiti art mural. After making a couple of site visits with the young artists, they helped draw up the plans for the mural.
Despite rainy, blustery weather, the young people worked through their holidays to create a multi-coloured scene featuring deep sea divers, tropical birds and a sly old fox along the formerly dull walkway.
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Alfie Powell, 14, with a colourful scuba diver |
In the past the footbridge was constantly being painted to cover up unsightly vandalism since the art work has been in place the bridge has remained untouched.
“This just proves how very talented and creative many of our young people are,” said Cllr Simon Windle, Cabinet Member for Schools, Adult Education and Youth Services. “It is not just older people that are angered by mindless vandalism our young people can be just as upset when they see areas in their community destroyed. Schemes like this inject a feeling of immense pride into everyone involved.”
Debbie Townrow, Neighbourhood Projects Manager at Gallions, said: “We are always concerned about any acts of antisocial behaviour, including vandalism. Our Neighbourhood Projects Team was set up to try and find ways of combating this type of behaviour by working closely with local youths, getting them to channel their energies more positively. It was great watching this project unfold. The level of enthusiasm and creativity shown by everyone taking part was amazing”.
The young people involved in the project will receive certificates signed by Positive Arts, Gallions Housing Association and the Green Chain.
