A creative collaboration led by Berwick-upon-Tweed–based design practice NEON, has been appointed to deliver on-the-ground interpretation for the new River Tweed Trail ahead of its opening in 2028.
Part of the £25m Destination Tweed river restoration project, the River Tweed Trail is a 113-mile source-to-sea walking and cycling route starting in Moffat near the source of the Tweed and finishing in Berwick Upon Tweed, where the river meets the sea. The Trail will be a major new tourism asset for the south of Scotland and north Northumberland and will encourage slower, more meaningful exploration of the towns, attractions and landscapes surrounding the route.
NEON, a design practice working between architecture, art and design, will work in partnership with Gateshead-based landscape architects, Southern Green and London-based interpretation and wayfinding specialists, Fieldwork Facility. Together, the team will design key structures for the route including signage and wayfinding, viewpoints, sculpture and interpretation panels to showcase the stories that will bring the River Tweed Trail to life. Work will blend sensitively with the landscape and connect users with the river’s natural environment, communities and rich cultural heritage.
The partners bring extensive experience of delivering high-quality interpretation and public realm projects across the UK, having worked with organisations including Historic Environment Scotland and the V&A.
The work is part of Destination Tweed’s Tweed Stories initiative, which is currently gathering river-related stories, memories and interesting facts that will be used to inspire the interpretation development for the Trail and help visitors to form a deeper connection with the river and its surrounding environment.
Sophie Gartshore, Communications and Digital Content Manager, Destination Tweed, said; “The interpretation infrastructure along the River Tweed Trail will play a vital role in helping people understand the river’s significance, its stories and the communities that have been shaped by it. This project will create an approach that’s sympathetic to the beautiful landscape and shaped by local voices to provide a rich, authentic experience for anyone using the route. We’re looking forward to working with NEON, Southern Green and Fieldwork Facility and believe that they bring the creativity and sensitivity needed to deliver something truly special for the Tweed.”
NEON Director, Mark Nixon, said:
“With a studio in Berwick, our lives are deeply entwined with the River Tweed. We walk our children over the bridge to school and spend time along its banks, often in search of inspiration, watching how this extraordinary waterway transforms with the weather and the tide. We’ve created work for places all over the world, so when the opportunity arose to engage meaningfully with a place that matters so much to us, it felt impossible to resist. To deliver the most considered outcome, we assembled a team with the creativity, technical understanding and sensitivity the project demands. Working alongside Southern Green and Fieldwork Facility, we’re excited to help people engage with the river in ways that feel embedded, thoughtful and lasting.”