Help Create River of Hope for Queen's Jubilee

April 21, 2022

The Friends of Leigh Library Gardens are inviting the community of Leigh to join in creating a ‘River of Hope’ for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

River of Hope is an arts-based learning project connecting schools around the world through the study of rivers which forms a central part of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations which run from Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 June 2022. This will take place along The Mall leading up to Buckingham Palace, with school children carrying silk flags with images of their hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years, emulating a moving flow of a river, i.e., the ‘River of Hope’.

Working with local artist and teacher, Esme Newell, Friends of Leigh Library Gardens aim to create Leigh’s very own unique ‘River of Hope’ within the Gardens and they would like to get as many people involved as possible making their own flags. The theme of the flags is how we can change our environment for the better. Flags should be made using recycled fabrics in red, white or blue which can be either sewn or glued together and will be displayed around Leigh Library Gardens over the course of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Completed flags need to be A4 portrait, and can be dropped off to Leigh Community Centre, last date for drop off is 16 May 2022.

Esme has already been working with students at The King Edmund School in Rochford and Belfairs Academy in Leigh to produce flags. She said “The young people have really embraced the idea of creating this artwork and sharing their hopes for the future. It has been a pleasure to work with them and we cannot wait to see the flags displayed in the Gardens.”

Valerie Morgan, Chair of the Friends of Leigh Library Gardens said: “Esme has been so great to work with, having so many ideas and so much enthusiasm for the project. We are delighted that she has brought the schools into the project and we are tremendously excited to see the finished artwork take shape. We hope that many people across Leigh will make a flag too.”

Anyone wishing to join the Friends of Leigh Library Gardens should make contact by emailing follg2018@gmail.com. As well as work in the Gardens, there are other roles and tasks to do such as fundraising and publicity.

Follow the Friends of Leigh Library Gardens on Facebook @friendsofleighlibrarygdns to keep updated with developments.