When families return to visit the museum, they will now have the opportunity to follow a new EARM activity Family Trail. This welcome addition has been produced to self- guide visitors; it is a co-operation between Catherine Harrison the museum’s Marketing Manager, and commercial design illustration photography from Sarah Hayes.
Catherine is seen here displaying the leaflet in front of this year’s marketing notices in front of a re-vamped Chappel arrival display board. Of course due to the pandemic most events have been cancelled, but not to be dismayed – this Family Trail has been produced to assist in the first phase of reopening, that is static viewing of the museum.
Its design is a double sided pictorial diagram, folded into 16 panels; items of interest are highlighted by nine number destinations. It is intended to be an optional extra offered to visitors so engaging whole family. It challenges younger visitors to LOOK, FIND and DO with added FACTS being shown. Actions suggested are taking selfies and to operate signal levers in the original signal box.
The pictorial design is in very a effective child sketch style, interspersed with photographs. It brings to attention some of the smaller features around site which often people overlook.
Being a design that is family and child orientated, there are many references of animals; cats, mice, elephants and rabbits are featured. It asks about telling the time, and where you might buy sweets? If the trail is followed and tick boxes completed – there’s a treat for a child and a hot drink offered for adults by way of a voucher for Platform 2 café.
Visitors will be encouraged to talk to “engineer”, in reality anyone with a reasonable grasp of railway technology can reply – you don’t need a B Tech qualification or a degree to answer a question, so don’t be shy folks. One of our strong points, if not unique selling points is that we do ask people to look inside our Restoration Shed, in this way we share our interest with visitors.
Our commercial partner in this production is Sara Hayes; the link below takes you to her web site.
http://www.thepublicartcompany.co.uk/portfolio/world-war-two-trails/
This link highlights the local World War Trail, a walking trail describing the importance of Wakes Colne as a location in the defence of the realm. It can also be seen in the first photograph on the left hand side of our signboard. Sara has been working with local authorities in Essex publicising the advantages of walking and pointing out local history.
Initially the leaflet has a print run of 1000, the insert photo shows a portion of it – but get hold a real copy to enjoy its full content. In time it can be reviewed and experience will tell us how to develop it, so congratulations again to Catherine and Sara on producing what could be a best seller.
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