Video: The Northcliffe Woods Public Art Trail
See behind the scenes as Our Patch worked alongside the Northcliffe Environmental Enterprises Team (NEET) to create this sensory art trail in 2025.
Published: January 19, 2026
Author: Maddy Allen
One of the longest-running Our Patch programmes, discover how Bradford 2025 supported NEET's vision for a sensory arts trail, woven through the beautiful Northcliffe Woods near Shipley.
Tucked within the beautiful Northcliffe Woods, among wild allotments and beneath towering trees that shift colour with the seasons, NEET is a true oasis of nature connection. The team supports Neurodiverse people every day through hands-on activities including woodwork, cooking, horticulture, and creative arts. From our first meeting, we were struck by the deep care embedded in everything NEET does, and their enthusiasm to be part of Bradford 2025 – UK City of Culture, celebrating the natural beauty of Northcliffe.
During 2025, Our Patch Creative Practitioner Dan Mallaghan was embedded within NEET, helping to bring the organisation’s long-held vision to life: a sensory arts trail woven through the surrounding woodland.
This film captures the journey of the Arts Trail as it emerged, now home to four permanent sculptures and structures, alongside a series of temporary artworks. The trail was launched through Northcliffe Arts Takeover, a joyful mini-festival coordinated by Our Patch, celebrating Neurodiverse artists and offering free creative activities for the public.
The day was filled with creativity and connection, featuring hands-on workshops such as leaf mandala making, tree wool weaving, fairy mobile creation, collagraph printmaking, trail-mix cooking, and inspiring music sessions, bringing people of all ages together in the woods.
This family-friendly celebration was co-created with Neurodiverse artists from across Bradford and showcased the vibrant creativity of local organisations in and around Shipley, including Skills Kitchen, Mojojack Music, Summat Creative, Esholt Hall Gardens, Baildon, Shipley & Saltaire Men’s Shed, and NEET, in partnership with Friends of Northcliffe.
The Arts Trail now lives in the woods for everyone to enjoy. Walk through the willow archway, listen to the sounds of the forest through the Sound Horn, or lie back on the sky-bed and watch the canopy change with the seasons.
Our hope is that the Arts Trail will continue to grow year on year, remaining a lasting celebration of creativity, care, and the incredible communities of Shipley into 2026 and beyond.
Visit the trail
You can see the trail by following directions to Northcliffe Allotments. See directions on Google Maps.
Head to Cliff Wood Avenue, BD18 3DD and continue the path along into the woods. From there you will see the willow archway which marks the start of the trail. Arriving on foot is encouraged!
Video © Ahseem Yousuf
Image & video thumbnail © Louise Rayner
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