A NEGLECTED wall was given a new lease of life as students teamed up with an artist to make their creative designs come to life.

With investment from the Tidworth Area Board, Year 10 students from the Wellington Academy worked with Salisbury artist Fred Fieber to give The Queen’s Wall in Tidworth a creative makeover.

The Queen’s Wall was opened by Her Majesty in 1993 as somewhere for young people to play football and basketball, but in recent years the feature has become tired and worn.

Wiltshire county councillor and mayor of Tidworth Mark Connolly had heard about a street art project in Germany, and following discussions with Wellington Academy and the Ministry of Defence, which owns the Queen’s Wall, the Tidworth Area Board agreed to provide £2,800 to kick start a street art project in area.

Cllr Connolly said: “I am really pleased with the project which has transformed an ugly wall into a real feature. It has been warmly welcomed by the town and I am now working on the next project at the community centre with the artist and the academy.”

One side of the wall illustrates a space theme including a nebula and a rocket ship and the other side is a landscape covering all four seasons.

Harriet Bilton, Year 10 art teacher from the academy who helped the students, said “The academy students were proud to collaborate with local artist Fred Fieber on their amazing mural on the Queen’s Wall in Tidworth.

“The sun shone, the paint flowed and all our pupils enjoyed leaving their mark in such a creative and inspired fashion. We are so fortunate to have such talented young people in our midst.”

Students from the academy said it was a “unique experience” to work with an artist and make a positive contribution to the community.

One said: “It was really nice to work with a real artist, he gave us some great ideas and guided us during the time we had together. He was really encouraging and positive all the time.”

A fellow student described is as being “an incredible experience that has added something beautiful to the environment around me - I will remember this for the rest of my life.”

Tidworth Area Board chair Cllr Chris Williams officially unveiled the wall on Friday, September 7. He said: “Unfortunately over the years the wall got into a bit of a state. It was covered in graffiti so this year we decided to tidy it up with artwork.

“We were happy to have funded and helped to create what is now a lasting memorial in Tidworth.”