Salt Hill Tunnel has been brought back to life with the unveiling of a stunning new mural at the Water and Nature Festival. The once-neglected tunnel is now home to the eye-catching ‘Water Lives Here’ mural, and Slough’s community made sure it was there to celebrate this iconic transformation.
On the 19th of July 2025, the festival kicked off with the launch event of the newly renovated Salt Hill Tunnel, a creative project developed by Viva Slough and Project Sponge.
The mural, designed by Johana Plazas (Jho), encapsulates local wildlife, foliage and movement of water, which was brought to life thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers, Dulux paint and Salt Hill VR. Using the latest VR technology, Salthill VR was able to map and superimpose the digital mural design onto the tunnel walls in real time.
There was no shortage of volunteers ready to help bring this mural to life; many members of the local community were eager to play their part in rejuvenating this forgotten part of our town.
As the launch started, the culmination of everyone’s effort and creative collaboration was visible to all those present.
And what is a Water and Nature festival without water? The drizzle of rain, which accompanied us as we started the parade walk for the tunnel, created trails of water on the ground reflecting the intricate brush strokes of the mural.
With live music by the talented saxophonist Michael Monnie, a heartfelt speech by Councillor Fiza Matloob and the cake-cutting ceremony. The mural was officially opened to the public by the Deputy Mayor of Slough and the High Sheriff of Berkshire. The launch was completed by a captivating performance by Sanchari House of Dance within the tunnel itself.
As the launch event finished, the rain which had stayed with us for most of the morning gave away to a bright sunny sky, shining a spotlight on the lively atmosphere at Salt Hill park.
Jam-packed with fun activities, learning about the local environment and the continuous line-up of talented local performers, the festival quickly became a vibrant gathering, catching the attention of anyone who passed by.
The water festival was a successful day, which saw our community come together and celebrate Slough as home to local wildlife and nature.
