Mural unveiled at Stockport Interchange

A new mural, inspired by the River Mersey and made from recycled bottle-tops, has been unveiled at Stockport Interchange.

The artwork was made by local Stockport artist, Caitilin Marie Atherton from Plastic Shed, a community-led organisation that brings people together through creative reuse of plastic waste. Caitlin was helped by 300 volunteers, including local children from dozens of Stockport schools, with the plastic bottle-tops used in the piece donated by the local community.

The River Mersey flows alongside the interchange, and the final design shows an idyllic river scene featuring fish, ducks and a diving frog. It is based on ideas and designs put forward by schoolchildren and input from the local community.  

The artwork is the second largest of its kind in the UK, with the largest also by Caitlin and located nearby at Merseyway.

It will be permanently displayed in the main area used by buses when picking up passengers meaning it can be enjoyed from Viaduct Park, the interchange and from trains travelling through Stockport along the town’s famous viaduct.

On 8th November a community event was held at the interchange to mark the official unveiling and people enjoyed food and drink, stalls and free games and activities.

The mural was unveiled by Caitlin alongside Danny Vaughan, TfGM Chief Network Officer, Grace Baynham, Stockport Council Cabinet Member for Parks, Highways, and Transport Services, Paul Brearly – Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester – Stockport Borough and Nick Fairclough, Stewart Connell and Yordanos Ermias, all of TfGM.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM Chief Network Officer, said:

“Much like the Bee Network itself, the success of this wonderful project is based on connecting communities, who, under the careful guidance of Caitlin, have helped to create an artwork that now takes pride of place at the award-winning Stockport Interchange.

“It was brilliant to then see so many people from the local community come together to unveil this fantastic new addition to the interchange. Thank you to everyone who helped to bring this piece of art to life.

“So next time you’re passing through on the train, having a wander around Viaduct Park or of course catching a Bee Network bus, make sure to have a look!”

Caitlin Marie Atherton, Environmental Artist at Plastic Shed, said:

“This project has been such a beautiful experience, from working with the wonderful staff at the bus station, the incredible local schools, businesses and groups, to the endlessly amazing members of the community of Stockport, it has been pure joy!

“Everything I do and the work Plastic Shed is building is only made possible because of this incredible community – to the thousands of people who collect and donate lids for us, the community groups who come to us to volunteer, nothing would be possible without you, thank you! You are making my lifelong dream of being an artist come true!

“I honestly believe in the power of people, and have seen first hand how giving people the power to make an environmental change has worked! I would like to believe that my work enables people to view ‘waste’ in a new way, and shine a light on the amount being produced, powering change where possible.