Enhancements planned for South Street

Thanks to grants from Safer Exeter’s Community Sparks scheme, InExeter the Business improvement District for Exeter city centre has planned a range of initiatives on South Street.

The project has been called ‘South Street Shine’ as the plans collectively will shine a light on South Street, celebrating this area of the city and facilitating it to flourish this year.

South Street Shine includes an interactive art installation situated at the top of South Street outside Skipton Building Society at the junction with Exeter High Street and South Street. Designed by local artist Scott Walker whose interactive cartoons draw inspiration from contemporary character design and street art, Scott will be visiting South Street on Tuesday 28th March, hand drawing his creative characters with the community invited to take part in colouring in the design.

Events Manager Marina O’Shea who has organised the interactive art for South Street Shine comments: “It is wonderful to be activating South Street with this art installation where the whole community can get involved, help celebrate their area and have ownership of the Street.”

Other initiatives that are part of South Street Shine have been organised by Projects Manager Mattie Richardson who has coordinated the current bench seating in South Street to be repainted as well as wildflowers sown around the benches and pop-up planters to be adopted by South Street businesses bringing more colour and vibrancy to the area.

Mattie Richardson is the Projects Manager with InExeter, responsible for planting across the Business Improvement District. In 2022, Mattie organised new planters to Sidwell Street which transformed the area into an urban garden where nature blossomed in the heart of the city, encouraging dwell time in the cafes, restaurants, and shops. Mattie’s work at InExeter also led to a Gold Award for the South West Britain in Bloom Award in 2022.

On the new initiatives on South Street Mattie comments; “It is fantastic to be able to activate a new area of the city with planting for 2023. These colourful floral displays enhance the streetscape and soften the urban environment.”

Each planter has been adopted by businesses on South Street, becoming custodians of their planters nurturing them to grow and thrive. Catherine Lovich, Manager of the Oxfam Books & Music on South Street is one of the businesses involved and is looking forward to being part of the project. Catherine comments: “We are looking forward to being part of South Street Shine and being a custodian for our own planters. It is fantastic to all be working together to make South Street burst to life with colour this spring”.

InExeter was awarded funding from the Community Sparks Grants for the South Street Shine initiatives which will help improve and regenerate the local environment. The activities will commence with the art installation on 28th March along with the planting and bench refurbishments. The public are invited to visit and experience the new artwork during the Easter Holidays.