The project was initiated by SCRP and Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust to encourage people to use the train to Explore Nature in the Blackwater Valley. There are rail to train walks along the Valley, starting and ending at each station. Funding was received from the GWR CCIF for commissioning a piece of artwork by Claire Watson to a brief from Sara Grisewood SCRP and Chris Smith BVCT, focusing on species of wildlife and plants found in the Blackwater Valley. This was completed by December 2024 and the designers, Red Rocket, completed the design in January 2025. It was approved by GWR Branding and Marketing in February and the printing was completed by the end of February and posters were installed in the Community Rail Poster frames in March. A launch event took place at North Camp Station on 4th April.
Sara Grisewood and Chris Smith briefed the artist who created several roughs and stages before it was approved. Although the project went smoothly, there was some delay because the artist was working part-time with small children; however this did not impact the delivery because there was plenty of time. There were a series of amendments made at each stage which took some time but it was really worth it because the final result works well with accuracy and colours etc. There were no issues with Branding or Marketing; Red Rocket are used to working with GWR and it was approved straight away.
Red Rocket put together the design, incorporating the logos, and it had a final approval from GWR Branding and Marketing in February 2025; final copies were printed as Double Royal posters for the Community Rail poster frames. Posters were installed during March; and a launch took place on 4th April.
The poster has already received many compliments and it will be an excellent way to catch people’s attention at stations. The QR code on the poster has links to the Rail to Trail walks in the Blackwater Valley and how to access nature. The poster will be displayed at Guildford Station, and has potential for display at Gatwick and Reading Stations too. A3 copies of the poster have also been circulated to various places locally. It will have a long-lasting effect at Stations with its eye-catching artwork, and great catch phrase too : Explore Nature by Train.
“People think of the Blackwater Valley as a built up urban area but actually it is full of pockets of nature and this poster encourages people to get out there, leave their cars, and use sustainable travel to access these areas, promoted by the Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust and funded by GWR.”