PROFESSIONAL artists led a range of workshops for The Big Draw at the Gardens of Easton Lodge at the weekend. The event was to encourage people to get drawing on the theme of maps and journeys and saw hundreds of people turn themselves into imaginary trav

PROFESSIONAL artists led a range of workshops for The Big Draw at the Gardens of Easton Lodge at the weekend.

The event was to encourage people to get drawing on the theme of maps and journeys and saw hundreds of people turn themselves into imaginary travelling machines using items from the gardens.

A trail around the gardens featured giant banners created by six schools. Each banner looked at a different journey relating to the past, present or future of the gardens.

Project co-ordinator Catherine Mummery said: "Visitors were amazed at the quality of the children's artwork.

A group of RAF veterans and their wives were really moved by the banner created by children from Great Dunmow Primary School.

"This showed a Stirling aircraft dropping a shower of poppies onto the wartime airfield at Easton Lodge."

The project was organised by the Gardens of Easton Lodge Preservation Trust with additional funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Essex County Council.