Guardians of Bird Island: A New Sculptural Trail for Cannon Hall Park and Gardens

Cannon Hall Park and Gardens is delighted to announce the arrival of Guardians of Bird Island, a characterful new sculptural trail that will enchant visitors of all ages. The trail will open on Friday, 19 July.

Guardians of Bird Island is the creation of Lenny and Whale, the Artist and Creative Producer duo who specialise in making colourful and fun pieces of public art alongside members of the community. They have designed and created two large Gateway Guardian sculptures that stand four metres tall and overlook the lake, as well as seven smaller character pieces that form a story walk along the woodland bank of ‘Bird Island’. 

The work was co-created and designed with families and school groups during a number of art-based workshops.  Additionally, a mini-album of songs that tells the story of the Guardians of Bird Island has been created by musician Nicolas Lewis and children from Silkstone Primary School. Visitors can access the music via a phone to enjoy while viewing the artwork.

The project was supported by the Arts Council through Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust and is another wonderful addition to the parklands which has undergone major restoration work in recent years.

The sculptures are inspired by the abundance of nature found in Cannon Hall parklands and encourage thought on how they can be cared for and protected, specifically the birds that reside on the lake and on ‘bird island’.  They tell the story of the guardians who protect them and visitors can follow the story walk to discover the characters and their message.

Lenny and Whale said: “We are thrilled to bring Guardians of Bird Island to Cannon Hall Park and Gardens, and we hope that our sculptures will spark the imagination and curiosity of everyone who visits. We have used materials that reflect the beauty and diversity of its outstanding green spaces, and we have created a story that celebrates the values of friendship, courage, and conservation.”

Cllr Robin Franklin, Cabinet Spokesperson in charge of Regeneration and Culture, said: “Cannon Hall Park and Gardens is an absolute delight to visit.  Already packed with amazing things to discover and places to explore it makes for a great day out.  The new sculpture trail is a wonderful way to share the story of the park and gardens as well as encouraging people to think about our boroughs natural environment and how we can make changes to protect it.”