Students’ Creativity Comes to Life

Tammy Quinn / 15 April 2026 / Categories: General

Marsden Heights’ students have seen their ideas and creativity come to life with the installation of the Folded Forest mural in Nelson town centre.

In the Autumn term, Year 8 students were invited to collaborate with a local artist to design stunning artwork to brighten Nelson amid the current town centre regeneration project.

Folded Forest is a collaborative mural commissioned by Pendle CEP (Building Bridges Pendle), working in partnership with Pendle Borough Council and Lancashire County Council.

The artwork was developed through a series of creative workshops led by artist Emmeline North with students from Marsden Heights Community College, Colne Primet Academy, St John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School, and Colne Park High School.

The mural combines a fresh, bright colour palette with layered natural textures to create Folded Forest - a stylised woodland made from patterned surfaces and folded forms. The result is a vibrant celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the voices of young people across Pendle.

Mash Hussain OBE, Senior Community and Youth Worker, said:

“This was a fantastic experience for our students to contribute to artwork, which will be in place for 18 months during the Nelson regeneration project. Thanks to Building Bridges Pendle and our link school, Park High; it has been a brilliant opportunity to showcase MHCC talent in the community!”