Hessle students celebrate 10 years of art at woodland trail

Backrow from right to left: Artist Louis Dorton, Wykeland Group Asset Manager John Gouldthorp, artist Liz Dorton, and teaching assistant Toni Southern, with students from All Saints CE Junior Academy

CHILDREN from All Saints CE Junior Academy and Hessle High School teamed up with local artist Louis Dorton to create artworks to animate the popular nature trail around Bridgehead business park.

Students from both schools visited the picturesque Bridgehead site in Hessle to show off their latest art installations along the scenic woodland walk.

This year is extra special as the collaborative project, funded and delivered by regeneration specialist Wykeland Group, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

John Gouldthorp, Asset Manager at Wykeland, said: “Community projects like these are essential to the work we do at Wykeland. At most of our developments, we work closely with primary schools to help pupils develop creativity, skills and aspirations.

“We’re really proud of our creative programmes and the children who engage with them. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts they have made, and will continue to make, in the future.”

Building on last year’s insect-themed art, this year the students explored the ecology of the woodland ecosystem, in particular the fascinating world of mushrooms!

All Saints pupils used a variety of materials to create colourful carved mushroom seats and bug hotels designed for insects to make their homes.

Meanwhile, Hessle High students used a range of recycled materials, such as metal and wood, to design and create 3D bug hotels which look like big insects and will become homes for other, real-life bugs.

The new features will join a new concentration of sculptures along the wildlife trail, adding to the appeal of the popular spot.

Since 2011, Wykeland has been working with local schools on projects attached to their various development sites, designed to inspire creativity and ambition. More than 1,500 children have taken part in these initiatives.

Elaine Burke, Wykeland’s Community Engagement Consultant, said: “It’s a very special year for us as we celebrate 10 years of this creative collaboration between Wykeland Group, artist Louis Dorton, All Saints and Hessle High schools, with support from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

“We’ve seen fantastic and inspiring artworks emerge each year to animate the beautiful Bridgehead Woodland Trail. This year’s artworks are a wonderful addition to the collection and we are so proud of the creative, talented pupils of all ages who have worked with Louis to make them.”

In partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Hull-based Wykeland designed and created the 1km Bridgehead woodland trail.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust manages the pathway and its natural habitat for Wykeland, promoting wildlife diversity and preserving the local flora and fauna.

Matthew Wilkinson, a teacher at Hessle High School, said: “This project has let pupils be creative - it was brilliant.

“It has given them some experience of up-cycling and recycling, of being responsible designers, of working with different materials and processes in the manufacture of products, and experience of working with outside agencies.”

Laura Jackson, Headteacher at All Saints' CE Federation of Academies, said: “The children have absolutely loved this year's project. Louis taught them a lot about diversity - how different plants are used for different things. 

“They loved using the lathe to make their creations - it was absolutely fantastic. They became a very focused group as they painted and worked together.”