Banbury Cross received another vibrant spring makeover thanks to the creative collaboration of residents in a popular community arts project.
Published: Wednesday, 21st May 2025
Returning for a third time, the successful Round and Round programme saw Cherwell District Council’s landscaping, wellbeing and communities teams join local textile artist Anne-Marie Cadman to repurpose three hobby horse floral frames.
Anne-Marie led community art workshops in Castle Quay, Banbury, from late April to mid-May, which saw over 200 people of all ages take part to create spring-inspired designs, including a maypole.
Local partners, Banbury MIND, Grimsbury Community Centre, Banbury Larder and Orinoco, The Hill Community Centre and All Things Woolly, worked closely with the local community to give a vibrant and colourful transformation to the hobby horse frames and maypole structure.
Councillor Rob Pattenden, Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities, said: “I am always inspired and heartened to see so many of our community coming together to create something that represents Banbury so beautifully. A massive thank you to all our residents, children and community groups who have come together and given their time to create such a colourful welcome to Banbury Cross.
“Art is a universal way for people to come together; it thrives when people connect. These workshops highlight the amazing things people can achieve when they come together for a common goal. It was lovely to see so many people learning new skills, building new friendships and having big smiles on their faces.”
The four structures were installed earlier this month and bring a spring festival feeling to the historic Banbury Cross roundabout, and will be on display until early autumn.
The Round and Round programme was first launched in spring 2024 to coincide with mental health awareness week, followed by a second iteration in December 2024 to celebrate the festive season.
The council-led initiative has given new life to old floral frames, supporting the council’s key values of sustainable practices, reduce, reuse and recycle.