WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre are delighted to have won a CPRE Gloucestershire award for their 'Nest' sculpture on the A38 roundabout.
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 said of the 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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