Located in the ticket hall of the station the Coal to Nature Project, led by Empath CIC, is a community initiative that explores the transformation of former coal mining sites into vibrant nature reserves. Launched in 2024, the project commemorates the 40th anniversary of the 1984-85 coal miners' strikes and examines the subsequent reclamation of these industrial landscapes by nature.

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Key Activities:

• Educational Workshops: Participants engage in photography, creative nature writing, and mindful art sessions, fostering a deeper connection to the natural world.

• Site Visits: Organized trips to locations such as the National Coal Mining Museum and various nature reserves, including Anglers, St Aidans, and Worsbrough Mill, offer insights into the history of coal mining and its ecological transformation.

• Artistic Expression: The project culminates in the creation of artworks, poems, and photographs that reflect participants' experiences, with exhibitions held at venues like Wakefield Kirkgate Train Station and online platforms.

 

Aimed primarily at individuals aged 55 and above within the Wakefield district, the initiative encourages social interaction, physical activity, and creative expression. By bridging historical narratives with contemporary environmental appreciation, the Coal to Nature Project highlights the resilience of both communities and ecosystems.

For more information or to view the project's outcomes, visit their website here.

Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Ashley Jackson's iconic landscapes and murals at Wakefield Kirkgate. Renowned for capturing the essence of Yorkshire's rugged landscapes, Jackson's art resonates with a deep connection to nature and community.

Explore his distinctive framing of the landscape, where every stroke tells a story of the moors, valleys, and skies that define Yorkshire. From vibrant murals that adorn the walls of Wakefield Kirkgate to intimate portrayals of local scenes, Ashley Jackson's work invites you to experience the region's rich heritage through an artist's eyes.

Whether you're a long-time admirer or discovering his art for the first time, journey through Ashley Jackson's world at Wakefield Kirkgate and witness the spirit of Yorkshire brought to life through art.

" The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded Groundwork Wakefield a grant for an 18 month project, named Kirkgate Calling, designed to enable local people to participate in learning about the historical significance of Kirkgate Railway Station and the wider Kirkgate area. Wakefield Historical Society were partners in the project with Wakefield Civic Society, The Hepworth, Chantry Chapel and Wakefield and District Housing.

The project aimed to complement the multi-million pound refurbishment of the station buildings and frontage with a programme of exciting heritage based activities.Young people and interested residents researched the stories of the Kirkgate area over the decades – developing interviewing skills and techniques to support the collection of stories of people who have used the station as a place for work, lived nearby or passed through it on journeys. Phil Judkins of Wakefield Historical Society provided training sessions for the volunteers. 

 The original Kirkgate railway station was opened by the Manchester and Leeds Railway in 1840 and was the only station in Wakefield until Westgate was opened 27 years later. The station building, an important local landmark, dates from 1854 and is grade II listed. Playing a pivotal role in the development of industrial Wakefield, the railway station was built to connect to the expanding manufacturing towns around it.

By the end of the project in November 2015, interested people had the opportunity to attend talks, learn interesting facts through the website, themed leaflets and exhibitions and engaged in dialogue between people of different generations and backgrounds to unveil and share the history of the station from its heyday in 1840 and how it contributed to the Wakefield we live in today."

Wakefield Historical Society - Kirkgate Calling. See Link.

"Beam was appointed by Wakefield Council to undertake the management of a public art commission to be situated in a prominent location outside the newly refurbished Wakefield Kirkgate Railway Station.

Artist Jo Fairfax was commissioned to design a site specific work that would blur the boundaries between the public art intervention and the rest of the designed environment."

See link for full information.

LonGBoaT Wakefield are hoping that we can find the funds or persuade those responsible for the artwork to return it to its former glory, with illumination and a good clean.

Once four, and now reduced to two, LonGBoaT Wakefield has not been able to find out much about this sculpture. If you do know please get in touch.

Hopefully we will secure one removed panel, but maybe the last one is hiding in the rubble of the old waiting shelter at the station.

We hope to re-instate the missing pieces back to the island platform.