News from our partners: Ellesmere all set for arty ‘Meremaids’ to make a splash

News from our partners

Dozens of people will be making a colourful splash in Ellesmere this weekend (Saturday 3 July 2021) as they show off their talents in a community art project featuring a ‘flotilla’ of Meremaids and Meremen.

More than 80 brightly-decorated aquatic figures will be put on display in and around the town centre for the next two months—thanks to an idea by Sally Poynton of Shropshire Council, who works as a library assistant in the Our Space building.

Meremaids in Ellesmere. Sally Poynton (centre), with Anna Gallen (left) from Ellesmere Guides and Heather Rodenhurst (right) from the Ellesmere Library Readers Group.

Providing template cut-outs, Sally has been encouraging schoolpupils, businesses and community groups to design their own versions of the watery creatures which will form an eye-catching trail of Meremaids and Meremen along Ellesmere’s main streets.

Leaflets featuring a map of the figure-of eight trail, together with a quiz, are being made available, with locals and visitors invited  to compete in a ‘spot the meremaid’ competition that offers a chance of winning a visit to the Blue Planet Aquarium at Ellesmere Port.

The vivid artworks will be on show at more than 40 shops and other businesses as well as the town hall, library, churches and medical centre.

All set to make a splash – Trainee Guide leader Anna Gallen with the two of the meremaid figures made by Ellesmere Guides and Brownies .

The Mayor and Mayoress of Ellesmere, Councillor Paul Goulbourne and his wife, Mary, will officially launch the trail outside the library at 11am tomorrow, when local musicians will perform a specially-written song. The trail will remain open until 4 September 2021.

Sally Poynton said:-

“The response has been fantastic. So many people have been keen to get involved and they’ve shown such great enthusiasm, imagination and talent. It’s been a real community effort and I hope it will help to draw more of the people who come to visit the mereside beauty spot to take a look around our lovely town centre and see the wonderful array of food, drink, clothes and other merchandise that our traders have to offer.”

Special signs pointing visitors to the trail have been put up along the mereside and at visitor car parks on the edge of the town.

A literary meremaid produced by Heather Rodenhurst on behalf of the Ellesmere Library Readers Group.

The project has been sponsored with funding from the Ellesmere Library Readers Group and the Community Hospital League of Friends. Support has also been given by  Guides, Brownies and Scout groups, the Methodist Church, Lakelands Academy, the Craft and Chat Group, Comrades Club and numerous traders.

• For more information, please contact Sally Poynton at Ellesmere Library 01743 248555 or email sally.poynton@yahoo.co.uk;  or John Shone, 01691 624514 / 07707 028820