1. Why might I map?

   You might have particular interests in some aspect of, or place in, the Necklace Park that you want to pursue and record. Or you might want to create something that follows a journey in the Park…real or imagined... (music, art, a performance or a story for instance). You might also want to acquire a new skill. Maybe you just want to meet new people and enjoy yourself!

2. What kind of map?

   Any kind! Making notes or joining up dots on an existing map. Adding layers to an existing map through a series of photos, drawings, notes, story snippets, bits of sound or music. Bake a map. Knit a map. Compose a map. Sing a map. It’s all about the Necklace Park, where there is so much to spark the imagination… so there is a lot of scope both for content and outcome.

3. How could I map?

   You can explore real-time, or virtually (remotely, online). Make a plan yourself, or get a team together to make a joint plan, of up to ten people, at least 3 of whom have to have some kind of useful skill they can pass on (and several must be from Durham / the North East). You can create the map bit by bit leading up to the weekend of May 5-7 2007, or you can do it all on that weekend to mark a time in space.

4. Where could I map?

   Anywhere along the 12 miles of paths (as the crow walks, not flies) of the Necklace Park…but no, you don’t need to do the whole 12 miles! A small bit can do, as long as your map has a “beginning, middle and end”. If your plan has you straying off paths into privately-owned land, you will need to let the Mapping Team know so we can try to get permission for you. See the The Countryside Agency's publication "Out in the Country" or the Countryside Code, and check the “Roam the Necklace Park now” page.

5. When can I map?

   Once you have made your plan, you and your team can decide how and when you will do your investigations. Preferably the map should be “done” or centred in some way on the May 5-7 weekend, but if yours takes a lot of lead-time then start when you need to (having logged your idea with the Mapping Team) and finish it off in some ceremonial way on the May 5-7 weekend.

6. Who am I?

   You’re anyone, of any age, from anywhere! You’re going to need to find some mates who are Durham- or regionally-based though. If you don’t know anyone like this, we can help.

7. What kind of teams are already involved?

   They range in interests from Parkour (free running), comics, and play-mappers to sound-scapers, shelter-makers and food-mappers. And so on…

8. What’s the point of Mapping the Necklace?

   For such a wonderful place there is surprisingly little mapping information or indeed information other than the obvious. We want you to add to the sum total of information about the Necklace Park stretch, but from the users’ point of view. We want people to check out the viability of the Necklace Park as a venue for creative work and other activities. We want you to create a new network of North Eastern mappers. We want you to show us creative new ways of making maps in a way that others can learn from throughout the North East. We want to gain visibility for this new “ephemeral” park, which will in turn help show others what sustainable tourism is about for our region.

9. What’s in it for me?

   You can learn a new skill or pass on skills to like-minded people. You can be part of a new regional mapping network. You can gain publicity for your own creativity, products, group or company. We can help you market your ideas through the extensive marketing and PR backing Dott 07 is giving this event (both May 5-7and in the October Dott Festival). Your name(s) will be featured in the final edited films on show, played out over twenty massed screens, at the October Dott Festival, and there will be extensive press coverage arranged by Dott. Your work will be some of the first to feature online internationally when the online “Virtual Park” unveils later this year. You will leave a meaningful legacy as part of this Park and you may also gain some business from it all!

10. How do I sign up, and what happens next? Can I get an info pack?

    Go to the ”contact page” and email your details and your initial idea to the Mapping Team…or if you’re not quite ready with an idea yet, arrange to discuss this with the team on the phone.

Info packs are available from the Mapping the Necklace Team by e-mailing them here or telephone (0191 383 3041). Info packs are also available in large print.