Discover storybook characters at trail

In the run up to What's Your Story, Chorley? students from nine schools in the borough are luanching a book bench trail instigated by primary and early years senior lecturer Sylvia Crowder of Edge Hill University (EHU) in Ormskirk.

Nine schools in the borough are involved in the trail which will open in time for literature festival, What’s Your Story, Chorley? on April 1.

It will see benches scattered throughout the town with a chance to listen to stories being read and an opportunity for young people to take part in decorating a bench themselves.

The project is the brain child of primary and early years senior lecturer Sylvia Crowder of Edge Hill University (EHU) in Ormskirk.

“About four years ago I went to Books about Town in London and was blown away by the engagement of the children,” she said.

“From then on I wanted to do something here and its just been festering away.

“All the benches are now in schools and they will hopefully be featured the week before the festival. A blank bench will also be outside the Covered Market on Cleveland Street and we will be encouraging passers by to design and decorate it on the day.

“University students will be dressed up as book characters reading stories on the benches.”

Each participating school has bought a bench designed and supplied by Wild In Art with support from Chorley Council and EHU in Ormskirk.

To design and decorate their benches students will first research children’s books and authors and then submit a design for their school’s bench.

The children will then work together to paint and decorate the bench. Afterwards each bench will be positioned around Chorley for the public to see. Book themes include The Gruffalo, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, fairy stories and How to Train Your Dragon.

Students from EHU are also designing a pamphlet with a map of the trail and a quiz about the books and authors represented on the benches. Winners of the quiz will be presented with book tokens.

Maps will be handed out to schools and to visitors on the day to help children to interact with the trail.

Participating schools include Chorley St Laurence CE, Duke Street Primary, Chorley St James CE, Chorley Sacred Heart RC, Charnock Richard Primary, Brinscall St Johns CE, Coppull Parish, Coppul St Johns and Coppull St Oswald’s.