Your Heritage
Chat Moss is an important area of lowland mosses and a key source of employment in Salford for many generations. It was well known locally, but not particularly well understood. The local community was particularly interested in the project, especially farming families who have numerous links to the moss.
The nine-month project was led by Salford Museum’s heritage service, with partners including the local neighbourhood management team amongst others.
Intergenerational work had been identified as a key local priority. Older people contributed towards reminiscence activities to gathers photos, stories and oral histories. Trained volunteers helped to record their numerous stories. Over 200 children from seven local schools and 25 older people worked with artists and writers to produce textile pieces, poems, stories, films and performances based on these collected memories. The work produced was showcased through displays at local libraries, a mobile museum known as ‘Pete’, and an imaginative walking map of Chat Moss.
Watching the kids’ faces was unbelievable. You could tell they were interested and they have something to show for it. It was lovely to watch.
Colin Dixon, oral history interviewee