A stunning mural at Tolworth station celebrating Tolworth Court Farm Fields has won praise from residents as it nears completion this week.
The striking artwork, which depicts the nearby greenspace and some of flora and fauna to be found there, is the work of graffiti artists from the We Are Sky High project.
It was brought to the once-dreary bridge after years of negotiations spearheaded by Tolworth's Community Brain project.
The group have been behind similar transformations of the area's architecture, including murals on nearby underpasses and the red lightening bolt celebrating David Bowie's links to the town on Tolworth Tower.
Even on a cold grey day this fabulous new mural currently being painted brings a little sunlight to Tolworth Station. Why not take walk & enjoy the view before maybe seeing the real thing at Tolworth Court Farm Fields #weareskyhigh @LordScroley @SW_Help @networkrail @RBKingston pic.twitter.com/mdMV5ELmbI
— The Community Brain (@communitybrain) March 4, 2021
As with that previous installation, The Community Brain's Chair Robin Hutchinson MBE played a central role in making the new mural happen.
"We've been working with We Are Sky High on celebrating Tolworth Court Farm Fields," Robin told the Surrey Comet.
"A lot of people are unaware that this astonishing nature reserve is there. What we've been trying to do is a way-finding project to direct people from the roundabout, through the station and onto the fields themselves.
"Now at the station we have this really staggering mural that is currently being finished. All the animals that are featured on these artworks are animals that you can find on Tolworth Court Farm Fields.
"We want to signpost the fact that there is something wonderful just around the corner and if you make that little bit of extra effort you'll discover what is really like a lost land," he said.
Amazing work at Tolworth Station adding to the beautiful creations at the roundabout https://t.co/eFp3d6NkQ8
— Robin Hutchinson MBE (@LordScroley) March 4, 2021
Indeed, amid the ongoing restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic, greenspaces like those in Tolworth have become even more valuable as we learn to cope with extended periods of lockdown.
The artwork has already been celebrated by residents who walk through the busy urban intersection, and adds to the similarly stunning We Are Sky High murals Robin alluded to on the underpasses.
"They are very engaging as artists and that sense of wanting something that makes you look 'through' the bridge and through to the other side is magical," Robin added.
"The feedback has been 99 per cent positive. People are really excited about it. It was like with the underpasses, with parents saying their children now want to go through them whereas before they didn't want to.
"I think it's amazing how a piece of art can animate a place.
"If we'd said three years ago we would make Tolworth Roundabout a visitor destination, we'd have been laughed out of court.
"But there are people making a special effort to see the artwork and this latest artwork will hopefully encourage people to explore, know about these spaces and why they need protecting."
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