Wildlife, Art and Community Spirit: Roughfields' mural aims to inspire a generation 

Roughfields, one of Hadfield and Padfield’s most cherished pockets of nature, is set to become the canvas for a spectacular new wildlife mural.

The project is a creative collaboration between Save Roughfields - the community group dedicated to protecting the site from development - and acclaimed wildlife artist Richard Preston of Heart Murals, whose vibrant, nature-inspired artwork has brightened neighbourhoods across Manchester and inspired countless young people. 

Combining conservation, community pride and a mission to connect children with the natural world, the mural promises to celebrate Roughfields’ wildlife while giving residents a shared space to enjoy, learn and be inspired. 

Save Roughfields has worked tirelessly to preserve the much-loved green space - an area rich in wildlife and treasured by generations of local families. When Richard moved to Glossop and learned of the campaign, he and Halina Bloggins, the group’s founder, quickly connected. They immediately recognised a shared vision: using art to celebrate nature, strengthen community identity and inspire children to care for their surroundings. 

Richard brings years of experience breathing life into urban areas through joyful, nature-inspired murals. Though he never studied art formally, his talent was nurtured in Birmingham, where he grew up surrounded by working artists in the city’s creative scene. One friend taught him to paint, while others introduced him to different mediums. When he moved to Manchester eight years ago, he continued to draw inspiration from the vibrant artistic community there 

His journey as a mural artist began during the pandemic when he was asked to paint a huge robin on the side of a friend’s house in Levenshulme. The artwork, inspired by watching robins in his grandmother’s garden, transformed a wall surrounded by litter, graffiti and drab buildings. “That’s when I realised the power of going into areas where there wasn’t much colour,” Richard said. “Everything was grey, but the mural completely changed the feel of the street.” 

The robin was his first large-scale mural. He’d saved leftover paint for months and used money from a smaller job to hire a cherry picker. He intended to practise first but never did. “I was terrified,” he recalls. “But I just went for it!” The result was overwhelmingly positive - residents praised the painting, children stopped to watch him work, and the mural sparked conversations about wildlife. That moment marked the start of his mission to connect communities with nature through art. 

After the robin more creatures followed - a woodpecker, a Mandarin duck, a kestrel, owls, a puffin, badgers, deer, even a panda. Richard’s passion for nature grew and he began photographing wildlife for reference, sometimes wearing camouflage to get close-up shots. He spent hours studying his subjects so he could portray them with life and movement. Each piece added colour and energy to places that had previously felt neglected. 

He created a mural art trail and ran street art workshops to inspire children, who told him “I want to be an artist like you.” Reflecting on his own path, he said: “When I was growing up, if you said you wanted to be an artist, people laughed. I want young people to know it’s a real and possible job. Something they can achieve.” 

When Richard visited Roughfields, he immediately knew where to start: the playground tunnel. Covered in crude graffiti and frequently painted over by the council it had long been an eyesore, and so he offered to transform it free of charge as a gift to the community. Generous funding from High Peak Borough Council covered the cost of materials. 

His tunnel mural (photo below), featuring sunflowers, a robin, and a playful badger, was intentionally created with children in mind. The colours are bold and friendly, the designs whimsical and warm. “It has really lifted people,” Halina said. “Children have been visiting to see it. It’s brightened the whole area and raised awareness for our campaign. We are so grateful to Richard.” 

Building on this success, the community is now preparing for an even more ambitious project: a large wildlife mural on the gable end of a house overlooking Roughfields. The homeowner has generously offered the wall (photo below) and Save Roughfields has launched a crowdfunder to raise £1,600 for scaffolding, weatherproofing materials and specialist paints. Again, Richard hasn’t asked for payment, viewing the awareness that the mural will bring as his reward, and is working to source as many materials as possible for free. 

The design is being kept under wraps, but Halina describes it as a “stunning piece of artwork that will reflect everything the community loves about Roughfields." Unlike the tunnel mural, Richard says this next piece will be more sophisticated - “a real showstopper.” 

Beyond aesthetics, the mural will be a hub for education and engagement. Save Roughfields hopes local schools will use the site to teach children about wildlife, while Richard plans to run affordable outdoor workshops at the mural. “I want to help the kids who feel they’re not going to be good at anything,” he said. “I didn’t go to college or university, and was very lucky that others invested in me. I want to pass that on.” 

As with his past projects, Richard sees the painting process as a way to connect the community. “When I’m out painting, people stop and talk,” he said. “Neighbours who’ve never spoken before end up chatting. That’s what art can do - connect people.” 

Halina is planning a community unveiling event, with the possibility of items featuring the artwork being sold to reinvest in Roughfields. With more than half the crowdfunding target already raised, local support is strong. For Save Roughfields, this mural represents both celebration and resistance - a bold statement about the importance of protecting treasured green spaces. 

“This artwork will put Roughfields firmly on the map,” Halina said. “It represents our determination to protect this land, our wildlife and our community.” 

To support the crowdfunder visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/roughfields-mural? 

To view more of Richard’s work, including an owl on Bernard Street in Glossop and wildlife at Empire’s outdoor space, visit his Facebook page: Heart_Murals.