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WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre are delighted to have won a CPRE Gloucestershire Award for their ‘Nest’ sculpture on the A38 roundabout.
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Image: credit Thousand Word Media
The wetland centre won the award for the creation of the imaginative public sculpture on the approach to the centre, which highlights its vital role in wildlife conservation.
Nest was created by award-winning metal sculptor, Ian Gill, as part of the centre’s ‘Slimbridge 75’ project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Funding. The project’s mission was to celebrate the life of WWT’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, and tell the story of Slimbridge Wetland Centre and its role in modern conservation. The A38 sculpture, funded by Moto in the Community, was the final instalment and marked the completion of the Slimbridge 75 project.
In 2018 children at Slimbridge Primary School were asked to come up with a concept for the roundabout, by creating designs that reflected what WWT meant to them. The two and three dimensional drawings - inspired by wetlands, were then entered into a competition. A pupil, aged 11, won with her fun design which incorporated a blend of natural wetland habitats, insects and bird species which can be spotted at Slimbridge.
Ian Gill brought the winning student’s vision to life. His sculptures include a combination of traditional blacksmithing and modern industrial techniques, working with heavy gauge materials that can be hot forged.
Ian Gill described the Slimbridge sculpture: "With our biodiversity in decline, ‘Nest’ is a constant reminder that without nurture and change, this is what we could lose. The sculpture depicts an infinity of lily pads, with a whole range of wildfowl and birds living amongst it, creating its own sanctuary. Raising awareness and reminding us how beautiful nature is around us and why we need to protect it."
Since the CPRE awards programme began in 2007, a total of ninety local initiatives have been presented with the CPRE Gloucestershire Award, from farm shops to community projects, to wildlife reintroduction and affordable housing. This year the awards had a new sponsor, Loxley Solicitors and CPRE are most grateful for their support.
This year’s recipients were celebrated at an Award Ceremony at the Gambier Parry Hall in Highnam. Representatives of the projects were presented with plaques and certificates by CPRE’s new President, Madeleine Bunting.
The awards recognise and celebrate projects in towns, villages, and the countryside that make an outstanding contribution to the county.
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Image: the Nest Sculpture
Related
Slimbridge Wetland Centre is run by WWT, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust – the UK’s leading wetland conservation charity, which was founded by Sir Peter Scott. All of WWT’s Wetland Centres – including Slimbridge, exist to fulfil founder Peter Scott’s vision of connecting people with nature, so Slimbridge make it their principle that wetlands and wildlife are accessible to everyone.
