An idea from New York has seen the pavements leading to an Ellesmere Port community centre blossom into a colourful nature trail.

Butterflies, bugs, bees and flowers have appeared at Wolverham Community Centre on Cheltenham Road as part of a ‘Community Places’ event organised by charity Sustrans.

Sustrans aim is to enable people to travel by foot, bike or public transport for more of the journeys they make every day.

It has been working with Chris Holmes and her Thursday Art group at the centre to develop the vibrant temporary art work.

An idea from New York has led to colourful pavement art at Wolverham Community Centre in Ellesmere Port
An idea from New York has led to colourful pavement art at Wolverham Community Centre in Ellesmere Port

Local people said they wanted to see more colour and life in their streets and the group developed designs over a number of weeks and then transferred them outside to the pavement.

A trailing vine links pictures of butterflies and wildlife to form a nature trail which now leads people to the centre.

Manager Chris Brown at the centre said: “We have had great fun designing and painting the designs on the floor at the centre.”

Ellesmere Port community street designer Ali Dore said: “This was a really fun event using bold colours to make the entrance vibrant and welcoming. As we were painting passers-by were really enthusiastic and supportive of the art work which has made the drab pavements brighter and cheerful.”

The temporary street art is said to be the first of a number of initiatives in the town which aim to show that creative designs by the community can help to make a safer, more attractive place to live and to encourage people to come out on the street.

Based on a concept first developed in New York, Sustrans says its community street designers use simple ideas to calm roads and encourage people to reclaim the streets.