Nature trail to 'open up conversations about death'

The trail includes eight interactive boards

An interactive nature trail has been designed to help open up conversations around death.

In partnership with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the free Dorothy House Interactive Nature Trail opened at the hospice site in Winsley, near Bradford on Avon, earlier.

The eight-board trail includes an augmented reality app, where users can collect virtual stamps and take selfies with creatures found on the site.

Katy Hancock, from Dorothy House, said she hoped the trail, which focuses on the cycles of life, would "help destigmatise death" and "kick start important conversations".

It is hoped the trail will allow people to "reflect in nature"

"It's a physical articulation of our vision of a society where death is a part of life," she said.

The trail is part of the charity's ambition to open up the estate to anyone wishing to find a wellbeing space, reflect in nature or find "serenity in grief", the charity said.

Created by creative art therapists, who work on site, and funded by donations from The Rotary Club of Chippenham, trail visitors can also take part in nature rubbings.

"They have created tiles where children, anyone really, can use a piece of paper and a crayon, when they rub the crayon over the top, it shows in relief, some of the creatures and nature we can find," Ms Hancock said.

The trail has been developed in collaboration with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust