New trail aims to connect humans to wildlife

1 hour ago

Andy Howard,Woodchester Parkand

Maisie Lillywhite,Gloucestershire

News image — Each sculpture has been individually created by artists such as Jess Perrin, pictured with her Ratty the Water Vole creation

BBC Jess Perrin is pictured standing in front of her Ratty the Water Vole sculpture. She has long, curly dark brown hair and is wearing a denim jumpsuit. She is smiling. Ratty towers over her. He is wearing a yellow flat cap which has honey dripping off it and a colourful suit which has a floral honeycomb pattern. He is holding a briefcase. — Each sculpture has been individually created by artists such as Jess Perrin, pictured with her Ratty the Water Vole creation

Sculptures of famous animal characters have been dotted around a National Trust site to highlight how "wildlife, farming, people and the environment are all connected".

The Wind in the Willows trail has opened at Tinkley Gate, Woodchester Park, to mark the 50th birthday of the National Wildlife Management Centre which is based at the Gloucestershire site.

Head of the centre Adrian Fowler said all of the animals had "their own stories to tell" as part of the trail which will be open until 28 June.

Artists have helped create the sculptures each of which will be spread out to encourage visitors to slow down and learn more about the connections between nature and people, the National Trust said.

A painted sculpture of Badger from The Wind in the Willows. He is wearing a top hat with an atom painted onto it, a blue blazer, a black waistcoat with various stationery items stuffed into the pockets and a red cravat. — The trail takes 45 minutes to explore

The contemporary reimagining of Kenneth Grahame's 1908 novel includes the characters of Toad, Mole, Ratty the Water Vole and Badger alongside some new faces, the National Trust said.

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Jess Perrin, who painted the Ratty the Water Vole sculpture, said the design was inspired by the bumble bee.

She said it was "the best brief" she had ever had.

"Water voles are an endangered species in the UK and I've also included aspects of the water vole's environment," she said.

"On the jacket and the trousers are leaves and foliage you can find in the water vole's natural habitat."

Max Biddlestone is pictured in a blue and white striped shirt. He is standing in front of a mole statue in a field. The statue is wearing a bright yellow shirt, a blue tie, blue waistcoat and red trousers. — Max Biddlestone said he hoped the trail would bring different generations together

Max Biddlestone, experience manager for the National Trust in the Cotswolds, said he hoped the trail, which takes 45 minutes to walk, would "bring together lots of different generations of people".

He said: "We want people to see this as a place where perhaps they can have their first interaction in nature."