THE Forest Community Centre in Bordon has launched a new community-art scheme in which creations are abandoned.

The Whitehill and Bordon Art Abandonment Project was launched last week with workshops at which people created pieces of art. But these pieces were not to be sold, displayed or even gifted to loved ones - instead they were destined to be abandoned in the town.

The idea is to “spread kindness to strangers” by creating unique pieces of artwork and leaving them for people to find.

The community centre’s Michael Rutland said it had been encouraging to see more than 130 family members, from nursery age up to a grandparent of 93, attend the workshops at the Hogmoor Inclosure, Bordon Library and the community centre at the Forest Centre.

“The community support for the event made the activity a great success,” Mr Rutland, who also hosts art classes on Friday mornings, said.

“What was lovely was to see several generations - children, parents and grandparents - all working alongside one another, with the children often encouraging their parents.”

At each workshop, participants could choose their own canvases and tools. At the end of each session, the creations were placed in bags with labels and hidden in green spaces, woodland and public buildings for others to find. A label in the bag said: “This is a gift created by someone in your community and left for a lucky, unsuspecting person, like you, to find.”

The inspiration for the scheme came from Rachael Hiscock, who attends the Friday-morning art group at the Forest Community Centre. As part of a global-art abandonment-initiative, started in 2012 by Canadian artist Michael deMeng, she had been painting and abandoning pebbles.

Organisers said the options for abandoned-art items could include small canvases, ceramic cupcakes, painted pebbles and creative writing.

“It is about the joy and empowerment that creating gives; a generosity of spirit, and the wonderment of finding something unique and handcrafted,” Mr Rutland added.

The centre worked in partnership with the district council, Tesco, Whitehill Town Council, Bordon Library, the Deadwater Valley Trust, the Whitehill & Bordon Regeneration Company and other organisations and individuals.

• For information about getting involved, email [email protected].