John E Wright & Co Ltd has received a prestigious Silver Award at the 2009 Geographical
Association conference held in Manchester
The award was presented for the Mapland Scotland project for schools in Scotland.
Mapland Scotland is a giant walk over jigsaw puzzle created by John E Wright &
Co Ltd and printed to scale at 1:50,000 (Ordnance Survey Landranger mapping). The
jigsaw has just 180 pieces which, when joined together, make up the largest map
of Scotland ever produced. The giant jigsaw measures approx 14m x 8m – roughly the
size of a badminton court!
In producing Mapland Scotland John E Wright & Co Ltd, who operate a large graphic
display business, took over 600 Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 map tiles and electronically
stitched them together creating enormous computer files. The files were then digitally
printed, using solvent free UV inks, onto 37 1.5m x 3m plastic boards. A large flat
bed digital cutter using an optical recognition software package then produced the
180 jigsaw pieces to form Mapland Scotland.
The Geographical Association awards are given for materials associated with geography
in schools and colleges which are considered to make a significant contribution
to geographical education and professional development. John E Wright & Co Ltd
has been given the Silver GA Award for Mapland Scotland’s innovative approach towards
teaching about a geographical locality, and because Mapland Scotland provides a
resource with a geographical theme that children find both stimulating and enjoyable.
Mapland Scotland is touring schools around Scotland and has already been viewed
by thousands of school children all over Scotland.