Community projects

Wharton Park mosaic project

Mosaic project

The Friends of Wharton Park have commissioned Newcastle artist Lorraine Udell to design a beautiful mosaic which will take pride of place at the heart of a new community garden.

Lorraine is famed for her fantastic ceramic creations and took inspiration from the park's heritage to bring together a selection of images representative of the city and the history of the park.

The mosaic depicts, among other things, a Davey lamp and the viaduct on the famous Durham skyline and features words especially chosen by the Friends group.

One of the mining banners - Neville's Cross Primary School

Miners' banners

Emma Shankland from Durham Banner Makers has been commissioned to work alongside young people from Neville's Cross Primary School and St Margaret's CE Primary School to create a double sided banner for the park.

The first ever Durham Miners' Gala was held in the park in 1871 and this new creation will recognise the park's links and heritage to the annual gathering in celebration of County Durham's coal mining history.

It will go on display in the new Heritage Centre once it opens and will be paraded in the park for all to see.

Children's guide

Darlington based artist Liz Million, author of a selection of much-loved children's books has got together with children from Framwellgate Primary School in the city to design a park guide for kids.

Based on Hardwick Park's similar children's booklet, which always proves hugely popular, it will guide little ones around the site. The budding illustrators of the future joined Liz for a brainstorming session where they came up with a fantastic selection of images. It depicts the history of Wharton Park through the eyes of a child.

The pages have been left black and white for the park's younger visitors to colour in.