A NEW trail is to bring a kaleidoscope of colour to Ashton-under-Lyne as it celebrates its connection with the tulip.
Think of the flower and Amsterdam may be the first place that springs to mind, but the Tameside town has long been connected with trade in them.
Now the Tulips of Ashton Trail will launch on Saturday, March 14, with nine 6ft sculptures, each painted by talented local artists and made with help from community groups across Tameside appearing until Sunday, June 7.
Caroline Coates, Helen Dodsworth, Lizzie Rigby, Gordon Banks, Simon Mound, Jojo Hayfron, Toubie Jack and Anne Louise Kershaw have each created a unique design inspired by Ashton and Tameside.
Some of the pieces were created through workshops with local community groups, college students, museum visitors, family hubs and more, making sure that lots of different voices and ideas are part of the finished trail.
The idea is inspired by Ashton’s history with tulip trading and the long tradition of Tulip Sunday at Stamford Park, bringing a colourful celebration of local creativity into the town centre.
Tulips will be placed around the town’s centre and nearby gateway locations – including Portland Basin, Ashton Old Baths, the Old Library and Archives, the Memorial Peace Garden, Ashton Library and Tameside One, Clarendon College, Stamford Street and St Michael’s Square – creating a fun, colourful route for people to explore.
Anyone taking part can also try a letter hunt challenge as each tulip has one on it. Write all the letters down and unscramble them, they reveal a mystery word.
With the trail covering Easter and the May/June half term, the trail has been designed to be an easy, free day out for families and visitors or all ages.
And the launch event on Saturday, March 14 from 11am until 3pm will see Ashton’s town centre become home to bright costumes, giant butterflies on stilts, dancers from the Great Garden Carnival, a 12-piece drumming band and hands-on creative activities for children and families.
There will also be artist-led sessions where visitors can make something small to take home.
Tameside Council’s executive member for lifelong learning and culture, Cllr Leanne Feeley, said: “The Tulips of Ashton Trail is a brilliant way for people to come together and celebrate everything that makes our borough special.
“These colourful sculptures will bring joy to the town centre and give families and young people something fun to discover this spring.”
More information, trail maps and activity sheets will be available at www.intameside.co.uk/tuliptrail.