A 29-year-old has lit up St Helens in rainbow colours to spread love this February.
Stephen Mousdell installed solar-powered, multi-coloured lights at one of the areas he takes care of in Haydock to celebrate LGBT+ History month.
The customer assistant’s installation is part of a community project he started around a year ago where he revamps and beautifies neglected areas across St Helens.
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Not only does he do so to improve the aesthetic of spaces around the town, but also to raise awareness of national campaigns and days of remembrance.
He told the ECHO: “This is very important to me as my heart and soul is in the community of Haydock and in St Helens. This is my town and I am very proud to come from here. I want people to enjoy and share pride in where they come from as well as spread awareness especially this month as it's LGBT history month.
“My inspiration was through my community work. I invested £300 of my own money into this to revitalise planters all over St Helens and over time I have raised £7000 in which I have got planters, plaques, silhouettes and historical signs which reflect our mining history.
“The green space at the Huntsman on Clipsley Lane is where I beautified a plain patch of grass and made it an oasis which people can look on and have pride in where they come from.”
Stephen raises awareness of Remembrance Sunday, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Cancer Awareness Month throughout the year.
However, regardless of the celebration, there are three trees that always stay the same colour.
One remains purple to represent an old mining disaster, while the other two shine blue to represent those who died during the pandemic and those frontline workers who worked tirelessly through it.
Stephen explained that the public’s reactions make it all worth it.
He added: “Reactions have been immense. People never thought it would pull off and I didn't expect it myself, but it has. People of all ages have enjoyed seeing the work and how it has changed people's outcomes in the area as people do sit and enjoy going there on nice sunny days.”
Stephen’s next installation is going to see the area lit up in blue and yellow to show solidarity with those in Ukraine.
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