Durham County Council sought a modern, cost-effective alternative to traditional interpretation methods across its parks and countryside estate. Existing interpretation boards and static signage were expensive to maintain, difficult to update and limited in their ability to provide engaging experiences for modern audiences.

The Council wanted to improve accessibility, increase visitor engagement and create richer experiences that would encourage residents and visitors to explore parks, heritage assets and natural environments more actively. A key requirement was the ability to deliver dynamic content that could be updated regularly without the costs associated with replacing physical infrastructure.

In addition, Durham County Council wanted a solution that would support wider objectives around physical activity, wellbeing, environmental education and heritage engagement while empowering council officers to independently create and manage content. The Council required a sustainable, future-proof platform capable of evolving alongside visitor needs and supporting long-term engagement across multiple sites.

Durham County Council partnered with Love Exploring to modernise visitor engagement across its parks and countryside sites, replacing traditional interpretation with interactive digital experiences. Through augmented reality games, heritage trails, interactive maps and nature-based content, the platform improved accessibility, increased visitor engagement and encouraged outdoor exploration. Council officers were trained to independently create and manage content, ensuring a sustainable, cost-effective solution that continues to evolve in response to the needs of residents and visitors.