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Whatever the weather, be sure to look out for a rainbow on your government-sanctioned walk, run or cycle today.
Families across the
UK have been creating these gloriously technicolour artworks for their windows or driveways to lift the spirits of those passing by.
The trend appears to have been started by a group of mums in Bari, Italy, but Kezia Roberts, 42, from Horsforth, Leeds, was one of the first to bring this cheery idea to the UK which she has called ‘Chase the Rainbow’.
Roberts, who previously organised art walks around her local town, was inspired to kickstart the venture in her area after hearing about the mums in
Italy and thinking the rainbows were a “beautiful example of trying to bring everybody together as a community”. Related... This 5-Year-Old Had The Best Socially-Distanced Digger Birthday Party She posted the idea on
Facebook and says that people in her area “didn’t need much persuading” to get on board. ”[They’re] making the kids happy and making the adults happy as well, just so they’ve got something to view when they’re doing that walk around,” Roberts tells HuffPost UK.
The trend has quickly spread across the UK, with social media transformed by the colourful images – check out the hashtag #rainbowtrail for some of the latest examples. Some households have painted rainbow posters, while others have given their front drives a makeover with chalk on the ground.
Much to Roberts’ surprise, certain pcarticipants have gone further by painting their windows – or even walls.
“I thought that was quite a commitment!” she laughs. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rhiannon • Cardiff Cottage • (@cardiffcottage) on Mar 29, 2020 at 11:05am PDTWhatever way people are choosing to get involved, Roberts is pleased the rainbows are being created – and enjoyed – by all ages.
“Everybody wants to get involved, which is amazing,” she says. “I didn’t want just children to be involved. This is for people who are self-isolating and vulnerable, as well. I wanted everybody to get involved and they have done wholeheartedly. It’s a lovely thing to be part of.”Although Roberts has been enjoying the artwork via social media, she’s yet to see any of her efforts in person – and is now “counting down the days” until she can. “I haven’t been able to get out yet because I’m self-isolating myself,” she says.
“So I’m looking forward immensely to walking around and just seeing everybody’s rainbows up in the window.” View this post on InstagramA post shared by West Norwood Feast (@wn_feast) on Mar 30, 2020 at 5:06am PDTREAD MORE: 'It Had Me In Tears': The Utter Joy Of Female Friendship In Lockdown Care Home Staff Are Going Above And Beyond To Keep Residents Smiling During Coronavirus 12 Wacky Ways To Occupy Kids That Require Very Little Effort Joe Wicks On Becoming The Nation's PE Teacher: 'It’s Been Overwhelming'