Wildlife Land Art in Winchester
22 July 2010
Over the weekend (17th and 18th July) a huge piece of artwork inspired by nature has been created in Winchester by 400 people.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust ran a public art event in Winchester this weekend to celebrate the wildlife found in the Itchen Navigation. Families came along and helped fill in a giant design featuring salmon, eel and dragonflies next to the waterway in Winchester College's Palmer's Field. The image has been left on the ground for people to discover in the coming weeks and it is visible from the top of St. Catherine's Hill.
The aim of the event was to get local people involved in the Itchen Navigation Heritage Trail Project, a lottery funded conservation project which is repairing the banks of the Navigation and raising awareness about the rare wildlife found in the river. The Project is led by the Wildlife Trust on behalf of a partnership, including the Environment Agency, Winchester City Council and Natural England.
This event was the final one of three land draw events taking place next to the Itchen Navigation. Artist, Abigail Downer, came up with the designs for the land art and ran the event with a team of helpers from ScapeSpace Events and the Wildlife Trust. Twenty-five students from Westgate Secondary School performed an Itchen-inspired dance through the completed land art on Sunday afternoon to a crowd of a hundred people. The students had spent two terms rehearsing the performance with choreographer Junior Jones from Wise Moves Dance.
Polly Whyte, Itchen Navigation Project Officer, said: "This event was a fantastic way of raising awareness about the rare wildlife found in the Itchen Navigation, one of Europe's best rivers for wildlife. Everyone who took part in the land art created their own mini wildlife inspired design within the main image and the overall result is an amazing work of art!"
Ends
Photo opportunity
Attached image shows the finished Land Draw featuring salmon and eels
For additional images or to arrange photography, please contact:
Polly Whyte, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Itchen Navigation Project Officer, on 01489 774413, email: PollyW@hwt.org.uk; website: http://www.hwt.org.uk/
Notes to Editors
For further information please contact:
Polly Whyte, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Itchen Navigation Project Officer, on 01489 774413, email: PollyW@hwt.org.uk; website: http://www.hwt.org.uk/
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust strives to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. It is the leading wildlife charity in the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and is part of a nationwide network of 47 local charities. We work together to create a better future for wildlife and wild places in the UK. With the support of our 27, 000 members, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Trust is taking effective action to protect our natural heritage, helping it to flourish again. Find out more at http://www.hwt.org.uk/
