St John’s was the first Frome area we focused on for our ‘Adventures in Your Neighbourhood’ series. In summer 2025 we spent time getting to know local residents, school students and shop workers on Rodden Road. We created a series of mini-projects, all of which were shared at a community party in the park on a baking hot Saturday.

Photographer Alice Whitby created portraits with people on their doorsteps and shopfronts, which were gathered into an exhibition in an Alleyway Gallery. We also captured images of the contents of people’s bags, which were mounted onto fences inside re-purposed bags.

Tom Spencer worked with all 200 Year 5 students at Selwood Academy to create Selwood Stories, a collection of new myths inspired by the local landscape. Each class at the school commissioned an original illustration by artist Jenna Herman to accompany their story.

Jamie Wood interviewed shop workers and residents, and created a treasure hunt of creative prompts to encourage people to explore the neighbourhood in new ways.

Esmé Patey-Ford worked with Frome Town Council’s Community Team, who were gathering ideas for a new community garden in the neighbourhood. She created playful planting opportunities, with residents joining her to re-use old shoes as plant-holders.