Community

Young Readers explore rail heritage at Hopetown

The children explored the rich history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway with support from storyteller Elizabeth Baker, Lisa Clisset from the National Literacy Trust, Nicola Hopkins from Teesside Park and Sarah Gouldsborough from Hopetown. They enjoyed a storytelling session inspired by rail journeys and were invited to create their own peg doll characters, reflecting a memorable journey of their own.

Their creations form part of the “Memories of a Journey” initiative – a key part of the S&DR200 festival marking the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway. These artworks will go on display at Teesside Park as part of a special exhibition before moving on to local museums to become a lasting legacy of the children’s imagination and connection to local history.

Every child also got to take home a book of their choice, helping to spark a love of reading beyond the classroom.

For the past 14 years, Teesside Park has proudly supported the Young Readers Programme — an award-winning initiative from its owner, British Land, in partnership with the National Literacy Trust — which aims to encourage children to develop a love of reading beyond the classroom.

Nicola Hopkins, Retail Manager at Teesside Park, said: “We were incredibly proud to support the Young Readers Programme once again and help inspire the next generation of readers and storytellers. Encouraging a love of reading from an early age is so important and combining it with the region’s rich rail heritage through the visit to Hopetown brings history to life in a fun and meaningful way. This project has given children the opportunity to connect with their local heritage while sparking creativity and encouraging a passion for reading.”

To find out more about National Literacy Trust and its Young Readers Programme, visit the National Literacy Trust website.

Last updated Monday 21 July, 2025