School willow sculpture banishes winter blues
Friends of the Lake District's Flora of the Fells Project helped pupils from Penny Bridge School shake off the cold and damp of winter to build a willow sculpture in the grounds of their school. The structure, christened a 'twigloo' was designed and built by pupils with the help of local willow artists Steve Fuller and Simone Siegan of Willowpool. Following a workshop where children aged from reception to year 6 learnt about the natural environment and made willow wands, stars and creatures, they went out into the school grounds where the twigloo was constructed.
"There is a sense of magic for the children that by just sticking a pruning into the ground we can help to rehabilitate an area and provide a habitat for wildlife and bring a little beauty to the world," said Sheila Jackson, teacher at Penny Bridge School.
The sculpture will now remain in the grounds of the school where it will be used for environmental education and play. The work was made possible through additional funding received from Friends of the Lake District, Natural England and the Friends of Penny Bridge School.
