The Wyre Forest Heritage trail is coming!
Ready for launch at Easter, the brand-new Wyre Forest Heritage Trail is set to bring history to life using the latest digital App technology to showcase Bewdley, Stourport on Severn and Kidderminster Town Centres.
Accessing the App on your smartphone will bring a whole new dimension to a visit through stories and songs from interpretations of local characters from times gone by.
The Wyre Forest Heritage Trail App was commissioned by NWedR (North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration) on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council and funded through the Government’s Welcome Back Scheme.
The idea for an augmented reality project emerged from discussions about new innovative and creative ways to attract people back into the town centres of Bewdley, Stourport and Kidderminster town centres in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Wyre Forest Heritage Trail is followed on an App downloadable to a smartphone. Completely free to users, the App guides you on an easy-to-follow trail around the town centres and pauses at locations of historical merit where, using the latest GPS and augmented reality, characters of yesteryear pop up in situ and tell an entertaining story or sing a song.
Each town has five ‘checkpoints locations’ accessible on foot, wheelchair or bike. The App uses a GPS map to locate each checkpoint and provides a metred route which counts down as you get closer to the next checkpoint.
Leader of Wyre Forest District Council, Councillor Helen Dyke said
“We are really pleased to launch this exciting project which will be engaging for all ages and abilities. It’s great to learn about the area in an innovative and creative way and we are looking forward to hear how residents and visitors enjoy the App.”
“We’re hoping that families and visitors will plan in a Wyre Forest Heritage trail visit over the Easter holidays. Followers of the trail should allow around an hour per trail per town – that’s walking at a leisurely pace! Of course, there are plenty of shops, cafes shops and other places to stop off along the way - which is what we hope people will do.
“We would like to thank local company DRP Group who designed and created the App, and say a huge thank you to actors from the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster and their youth group who worked very hard, volunteering their talents and time, to tell the stories on the App so effectively”.
The App is free to download and use from 9am Thursday 31 March 2022. Access it from your App store or through Wyre Forest District Council’s website, www.wyreforestdc.gov.uk/heritagetrail.
NWedR on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council plans to continue to build the App as a unique visitor attraction. Upcoming redevelopment projects will provide rich material to create additions to the App over time.
Admin
get in touch
NWedR