Desire Lines R&D

‘Desire lines’- paths and tracks made over time by the wishes & feet of walkers; cow paths, pirate paths, social trails, free-will ways.

Desire lines R&D (research and development) is a research project started with funding from Arts council England as part of their emergency response to Covid-19. Inspired by the global youth response to the climate crisis as well as other inspiring young voices and actions to challenge social injustice, the project is exploring how young people in the local town Cinderford use, access and feel about their outdoor spaces. This is an artist led project by Nichola Goff which aims to become increasingly youth led as it develops. Over the last decade or so youth provision and access to public space has dramatically declined as well as the cultural shift towards spending time indoors has led to an increasing negative view of young people being out on the streets. Nichola would like to challenge this and is interested in how young people can benefit from gaining a sense of ownership over outdoor spaces. Scroll down for current activity and link to the research blog…