Find Our Benches on the Amaze Story Trail

The Story Trail is officially here! Keep reading to learn all about the Hopscotch benches, where to find them, and what inspired the creativity proudly displayed on each bench!

Peacehaven - The Story Meadow

The Peacehaven bench, The Story Meadow, is located in the lobby of the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. You’ll find it on the right as you enter through the main doors. Our Peacehaven nursery found inspiration in Sir David Attenborough’s birthday earlier this year while taking time to explore nature and animals. This Spring, the children learned about minibeasts, life cycles and all of the different ways nature impacts our day to day life which was a big inspiration for this meadow themed bench. To create their beautiful bench the children all took turns sponge painting the grass and the sky and used templates to sponge dark green grasses and flowers. The younger children used their footprints to create the wings of a butterfly. Peacehaven says, “The Story Meadow celebrates children’s curiosity, creativity and their growing connection with the natural world.”

West Hove - Hopscotch West Hove’s Heroes

West Hove’s bench, Hopscotch West Hove’s Heroes, can be found inside the Marina Cineworld! As you enter the main doors you’ll find West Hove bench on the right side of the lobby in front of Starbucks, alongside a mini library and Hove Station’s bench! West Hove chose to immortalize their nursery’s heroes: Sharing Shark, Teamwork Tiger, Friendship Falcon, Safety Sam and Captain Kindness! Their bench shares Hopscotch values with anyone who chooses to take a seat and serves as a reminder that every child has the ability to make a positive difference. West Hove says the West Hove Heroes “are helping children discover that they can be everyday superheroes too.”

Hove Station - Once Upon a Tide

Once Upon a Tide was lovingly created by our Hove Station nursery! Placed right next to West Hove’s bench and mini library in the Marina Cineworld. You can find this bench on the right side of the lobby, in front of the Starbucks. The nursery’s inspiration came from all of their trips to the beach and the memories they’ve created by the seaside! They chose to highlight their passion for the environment and motivation to keep our oceans and beaches clean. The children led the way, sponge painting all different shades of blues and yellows to create the sand and the sea, decided which creatures to include and where to put them! The staff only added the black outlines to bring everything together. Hove Station hopes “it inspires others to appreciate the beauty of the beach and the many stories that can be found by the sea.”

Worthing - Worthing by the Sea

Worthing’s wonderful bench, titled Worthing by the Sea, is located in the Prince Regent Swimming Complex. Entering through the main doors, you find the bench on your right, near the front windows. The children at the nursery were also inspired by the nearby sea, and after plenty of conversations about what to paint they decided it had to be the seashells, the sea creatures and a beautiful rainbow! Worthing brilliantly captured the children’s “wondering sense of curiosity and imagination, reminding us of the magic and beauty our local coastline inspires.”

Seaford – A Splash of Seaford

Seaford’s bench, A Splash of Seaford, is located at the Stanley Deason Leisure Centre. Following the road down to the parking lot, the entrance to reception is located on the right of the road, follow the signposting for reception. Upon entering the doors to reception, the bench is located just on your left! Inspired by Hopscotch Explorers trips to the beach, the bench focuses on the children’s favourite part of their local area. The tiny pebbles are made from the children’s fingerprints, each as unique as the pebbles on the beach. “It’s a simple way of celebrating that every child is unique and plays an important part in our nursery community.”

Preston Park - Our Hopscotch Journey

Preston Park’s bench, Our Hopscotch Journey, is located in the Withdean Sports Complex, just passed Preston Park. The nursery decided to dedicate their bench to the journey throughout nursery, beginning in Blue Room all the way through Preschool. The bench celebrates all kinds of ‘firsts’ and watching the children grow and flourish during their time at Hopscotch. The artwork on the front was collaborative across every room in the nursery, and includes drawings from parents and carers, acknowledging the wider Hopscotch community and how the nursery journey is one that is shared with families through every moment. Preston Park chose to celebrate every child’s individual “ideas, personality, and creativity, helping to make our nursery community unique.”

Seven Dials – Leaving Our Mark

Seven Dials wanted to incorporate every single child into the creation of their bench, Leaving Our Mark. Their bench can be found at the King Alfred Leisure Centre, the main entrance is on a side road which leads off Kingsway, the bench is placed just past reception. The bench was split into different sections, each dedicated to a different room in the nursery. Some sections showcase the collaboration and creativity within the rooms to create one big piece of artwork while other rooms dedicated portions of their section to allow children to create individual works of art! All of the children had the opportunity to explore different patterns, colours, textures and ways of creating throughout the process. Seven Dials says, “the finished bench reflects every stage of the children’s creative journey and celebrates the unique mark each child leaves on our nursery community.”

Under the Brighton Rainbow – Painted by artist Jess Eyles

Hopscotch Nurseries have also sponsored a big bench, painted by artist JEylesDesigns! We choose to sponsor this bench because we felt like Jess’s design encompassed so many iconic parts of the city where Hopscotch began. We fell in love with the vibrant colours and loved the idea of anyone wandering the Story Trail stopping to take a rest on the beach chairs at the front of the bench! You can find Under the Brighton Rainbow right in front of the Palace Pier.

For more information on all of the benches along the Story Trail visit Explore the sculptures - Amaze Sussex.