To develop a new narrative-led interpretation, wayfinding and digital engagement strategy for five of Hampshire’s country parks as part of the Parks for People programme.

The brief asked for something more ambitious than signage and information: a framework that would reimagine country parks as genuine gateways to the natural world, giving people new ways to explore and feel ownership of the landscapes around them.

Narrative Development | Interpretation Planning | Content Development | Wayfinding Design | Digital Platform Development | Community Engagement

We began with an extensive programme of site visits, mapping, historical research and stakeholder engagement workshops across all five parks, building a deep understanding of each park's distinct character, stories, communities and assets.

From this foundation we developed shared narrative - “We Make The Park – The Park Makes Us” - that could be adapted to celebrate each park’s individual identity.

The full scheme was delivered at Staunton Country Park, encompassing interpretation and design for signage, exhibitions and a digital mapping and interactive storytelling platform.

One highlight of the project was the design of twenty-first century ‘follies’, contemporary sculptural interventions inspired by the concept of totem poles, each one representing the key features of identity at its park.

New trails and tours were planned across the parks and developed at Staunton, including a series of Walks with Friends, intimate audio experiences following pairs of people with different roles, rangers and gardeners, volunteers and historians, speaking about their work, and favourite places in the park.

New educational resources gave schools and community groups new ways to explore the landscapes and the stories they hold.

Country parks are among the most important shared green spaces in a community. Each of these five parks has a distinct identity, shaped by its landscape, its history, the people who care for it, and the communities that use it.

The “We Make The Park” narrative approach celebrates what makes each park irreplaceable while giving visitors the confidence to explore beyond its boundaries.

Significantly, the Walks with Friends audio tour format proved one of the most popular elements, not because it was technically sophisticated but because it placed real human voices and genuine local knowledge at the centre of the visitor experience.

Client: Hampshire County Council

TGA: Narrative Development, Interpretation Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Content Development, Design Integration, Digital Platform Development

Partners: Hotrod Creations (Graphic, Signage and Exhibition Design)