Tulips of Ashton Trail set to brighten the town centre this spring

Ashton-under-Lyne is set to burst into colour this spring as the new Tulips of Ashton Trail launches on Saturday, March 14.

The free trail will feature nine striking six-foot tulip sculptures placed around Ashton town centre and nearby gateway locations, creating a colourful route for families and visitors to explore. Running until Sunday, June 7, the trail is designed as an easy and enjoyable day out for all ages.

Each tulip has been designed and painted by talented local artists, with many created alongside community groups from across Tameside. The project celebrates creativity within the borough while also drawing inspiration from Ashton’s historic links with tulip trading and the long-standing tradition of Tulip Sunday at Stamford Park.

Artists Caroline Coates, Helen Dodsworth, Lizzie Rigby, Gordon Banks, Simon Mound, Jojo Hayfron, Toubie Jack and Anne Louise Kershaw have each created a unique design inspired by Ashton and the wider Tameside area.

Several of the sculptures were developed through workshops with local community groups, college students, museum visitors, family hubs and others, ensuring the finished trail reflects a wide range of local voices and ideas.

Visitors following the trail can also take part in a fun letter-hunt challenge. Each tulip features a letter and when all the letters are collected and unscrambled they reveal a mystery word. Trail leaflets and activity sheets will be available online and at locations around the town centre.

With the trail running across the Easter holidays and into the May and June half-term, organisers hope it will provide a free activity for families throughout the spring.

The launch event on Saturday, March 14, from 11am to 3pm will bring Ashton town centre to life with a lively programme of entertainment. Visitors can expect bright costumes, giant butterflies on stilts, dancers from the Great Garden Carnival, a 12-piece drumming band and hands-on creative activities for children and families. Artist-led sessions will also give people the chance to make something small to take home.

Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Lifelong Learning and Culture, said: “The Tulips of Ashton Trail is a brilliant way for people to come together and celebrate everything that makes our borough special. These colourful sculptures will bring joy to the town centre and give families and young people something fun to discover this spring.”

The tulips will be located at well-known spots around Ashton including Portland Basin, Ashton Old Baths, the Old Library and Archives, the Memorial Peace Garden, Ashton Library and Tameside One, Clarendon College, Stamford Street and St Michael’s Square.

More information, trail maps and activity sheets can be found at www.intameside.co.uk/tuliptrail.