The ‘World of Wallingford’ Globe was created following an extensive programme of workshops and consultation led by Berkeley and Planet Art, exploring the town’s history, landscape and community.
Participants ranged from age 2 to 90, and included primary school pupils from Brightwell, Fir Tree, St Nicholas, St John’s and Wallingford School; residents at Berkeley’s Highcroft development; visitors to Wallingford Museum; families at WIGOD community group; residents at a SOHA Housing assisted living facility; and members of the local library community.
The programme has combined practical workshops with group consultation, giving locals the opportunity to contribute ideas through drawing, model-making and discussion.
At Wallingford Museum, a week-long residency allowed artists to work directly with visitors, while family creative sessions and on-site events at Berkeley’s Highcroft development invited residents to take part in shaping early concepts.
The sculpture was then finalised by Planet Art, a Midlands-based artistic partnership formed by Julie Edwards and Ron Thompson, who have worked together for more than 20 years. Specialising in public art, the pair develop site-specific sculptures through local research, consultation and creative workshops.
After working through a series of artistic concepts, the community landed upon the final piece.
The completed artwork takes the form of a globe, with the River Thames flowing around its surface and linking a series of images drawn from Wallingford’s past and present. References include the town’s castle and bridge, its royal and Plantagenet connections, archaeological finds from the Highcroft site, local wildlife, agriculture, industry, music and community life.
The project has also created opportunities beyond the artwork itself, including mentoring for a local young artist from Ayres Yard Studios, who has worked alongside Planet Art during workshops and events.
Stephen Kirwan, Managing Director at Berkeley, said, “This project has been about working closely with the local community from the outset, ensuring that the artwork reflects the character of Wallingford and the people who live here.
“The level of engagement we’ve seen, across schools, community groups and residents, has been a key part of shaping something that will have a lasting presence at Highcroft.”
Julie Edwards from Planet Art added, “The consultation process has been central to the development of the piece. By working with such a wide range of groups, we’ve been able to build a rich picture of what Wallingford means to different people, and to translate that into a design that reflects those shared ideas.”
Highcroft in Wallingford is a development consisting of 555 new homes. Berkeley is delivering a range of new housing with a new on-site primary school, 2.2 acres of sports pitches, play areas and around 18 acres of green open space, alongside a new bus route, footpath connections and allotments.
