A new educational and interactive public artwork showcasing the plants and wildlife found along the Thames Path will be placed in Henley to mark the 30th anniversary of the trail.

The vibrant mural at the Henley Pavilion in Mill Meadows is projected to exceed £3,500 in cost and will illustrate various species inhabiting the River Thames and its surroundings.

The piece will feature a scannable QR code linking to a quiz and details about the creatures depicted, alongside a plaque displaying a poem composed by Robert Seatter and a mirror for visitors to take photographs.

Artist Vickie Amiralis, who received guidance on the design from Greener Henley, is collaborating with the Henley College to give students hands-on experience working on the project.

Henley Town Council has contributed £2,500 from its Bloom allocation, while Thames Path National Trail has pledged £1,000 to support the initiative.

Concerns were expressed during a meeting last month about whether the mural’s colors were too striking, and whether a more modest design centered on Henley would be preferable.

However, supporters argued that the current concept fits the location well, given the goal of honoring wildlife throughout the entire river.

Recommendations made included incorporating texture into the design and including a carp, as well as adding braille to the sign and poem to better serve those with visual impairments.