Decide what you are going to interpret
What are your stories?
Many local people take the things they see daily and the stories they grew up with for granted. But for new residents, and for visitors, they are secrets waiting to be revealed. You can tell the stories of small things – like an ancient stone wall, or the chequered history of the local pub. You can look at bigger items like your church and the people buried in your churchyard. Or you can devise an interpreted trail around the village or nearby area, telling the story of its development over the centuries and the people involved.
There’s probably a whole range of stories to tell about your area – it’s just a question of deciding which ones are best to tell. But do check that other people find the stories interesting and significant as well! And ensure that people are able to visit the places or things you want to interpret - it’s vital to get the owner’s permission. You’ll also need to find out if anything similar is already interpreted in your area and if there are any other projects being planned for the area in the future. It’s a good idea to see if you can make links to other sites and to services like toilets, shops, pubs, tearooms, accommodation and public transport as well as parking. And you need to check the resources you have available – that includes other sites, services like shops and parking as well as staff, volunteers and money.
