This colourful mural has appeared on a Southsea street – here’s why

Cutting through the drab northern end of Francis Avenue in Southsea is My Dog Sighs’ latest burst of colour injected into a project hoping to turn the street wild.

Wilder Portsmouth has already seen success in bringing nature back to the busy thoroughfare, with residents putting out plants and flowers.

Now the new mural, painted on the Carer Centre near is set to act as an inspiration for more people to get involved in Portsmouth's first ‘wild street’.

Painted on Monday, the mural has already won widespread praise.

Clare Rachwal, team manager at the Carers Centre said: 'We are so excited to be able to support the Wilder Portsmouth project and lend a hand to helping wildlife live alongside us despite not having a garden or balcony at the Carers Centre.’

Wilder Portsmouth is a partnership project between the Southern Co-op and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

People are being encouraged to share photos and selfies at the spot using #wilderportsmouth online.

‘We are delighted to display this important message from a local and renowned artist at our Carers Centre,’ said Councillor Dave Ashmore, the city council’s cabinet member for environment and climate change.

‘We're proud to support the Wilder Portsmouth project and the mural is a great reminder to us of the small things we can all do to make space for wildlife where we live.’

The wider project is focusing on urban spaces, people’s gardens, neglected scrubland and green spaces.

Bug hotels, bird boxes and pollinator plants have been put in Francis Avenue in the project.

Elsewhere in Tamworth Road residents are making similar additions alongside tree planting.

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Andy Ames, wilder communities officer, said: ‘People have been saying to me how excited they have been recently with seal and dolphin sightings on our doorstep, and how they have been noticing more bees, butterflies and birds in our neighbourhoods.

‘For everyone who has been enjoying the wilder side of lockdown it seems like the right time to become a part of Wilder Portsmouth and help us bring more nature back to our city, if everyone does something however small it can make a huge difference.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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