This collaborative project brought together Southeast Communities Rail Partnership, Arun District Council, Horsham District Council, Experience Sussex and Whistlestop Arts to celebrate communities along the scenic Arun Valley Line.
Building on the success of the first series of podcasts that showcased stations in the Horsham District, the partnership sought to extend the project into the neighbouring Arun District. Using funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the aim was to produce engaging digital storytelling—through podcasts and short films—that highlighted the attractions, walks and community activities accessible from local railway stations.
The project also aimed to encourage sustainable travel by train, strengthen community identity, and promote the area as a destination for visitors. To broaden the project’s reach, the team secured additional funding from the Community Rail Network to develop a children’s activity pack that could be used on journeys or enjoyed at home.
Commissioned by Arun District Council, Whistlestop Arts produced a second series of podcasts and short films celebrating six stations and their surrounding communities within Arun District:
Each podcast episode explores the character of the local community and introduces listeners to nearby attractions, scenic walks, cultural heritage and community groups accessible from the station.
This series follows on from Series 1, which celebrated seven stations in the Horsham District:
To complement the new series, the partnership secured funding from the Community Rail Network to produce a downloadable children’s activity pack. The pack follows the adventures of Sonnet the Skylark, who leads young explorers on a railway mystery adventure. Through puzzles, clues and activities, children can solve the mystery while travelling by train along the line—or complete the activities at home, in classrooms or in community groups.
The project produced a rich collection of digital content that celebrates the places and people along the Arun Valley Line.
Key outputs included:
The content highlights local heritage, walking routes, attractions and community activities, creating a lasting digital resource for residents, visitors and tourism organisations.
“This project is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when organisations work together creatively. The podcasts really capture the personality of each place and help people see how easy it is to explore the area by train.”
“We loved listening to the podcast before visiting. It gave us ideas for things to do when we arrived and made the journey feel like part of the adventure.”
“The activity pack is brilliant for families. The mystery element keeps children engaged and encourages them to look out of the window and explore new places.”