Archive: this report describes the painted-rock snake created during the 2020 lockdown.
In May 2020, a painted-rock display began to grow along Buxton’s Broadwalk during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The painted-rock game
The original report described a game in which people painted rocks and hid them for others to find. Finders could share photographs with a local group, keep a rock or hide it again.
A new idea during lockdown
Buxton resident and HP Rocks group member Clare Cartledge said she came up with a new idea to cheer up passers-by and give children something to enjoy. “I thought, the usual rock hiding has become more difficult – why not make a ‘snake’ with the painted rocks and see how far we can make him grow?!”, said Clare.
The Covid-19 snake began on Broadwalk in Buxton, outside The Argyle Nursing Home. At the time of this report it contained more than 150 painted rocks, including messages of thanks to NHS and key workers.
“I thought it was something the local children, of all ages, could enjoy on their daily exercise and the community could enjoy too – cheering up passers by, the response has been phenomenal. It’s the small things that really lift us and we need that more than ever now”.
“I wanted to make Buxton a brighter place through these hard times we are all living through – because we are all in this together”.
Contributing to the snake
In 2020, Clare asked people to add to the display rather than take rocks away. “This is different to the usual game so we just want people to add their rocks to the ‘snake’. We don’t want to contribute to any potential spread of the virus so we’d ask people not to touch the rocks and please do social distance with others and stay at least 2m apart if you stop and take a look. The rocks look amazing, everyone who has contributed – thank you – let’s keep it going!”.
A follow-up report recorded more than 3,000 contributions by June 2020.
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