Help create new arty entrance for Dewsbury Country Park

Yorkshire-based artist Lesley Fallais has been commissioned by Kirklees Council to design a new entrance feature welcoming visitors to the park at the end of Park Road, Ravensthorpe.

The Earthworks project sees Ms Fallais work with Kirklees Council’s Landscape Architect Andrew Muddiman to create artwork inspired by nature and personal experienced of the Country Park.

People can get involved at one of two drop-in sessions at Dewsbury Museum, Crow Nest Park, on Saturday May 18, 11am to 1pm and Sunday May 19, 2pm to 4pm.

Visitors can create their own Earthwork Boxes inspired by the natural environment of Dewsbury Country Park. The boxes could contain a variety of items including maps, documents, diagrams, drawings, poetry and found objects. The boxes created will help contribute to design ideas for the final entrance feature.

People can also take part by making an Earthwork Action at Dewsbury Country Park.

This is where people can come together to create shapes and patterns perhaps using natural found objects.

Earthwork Actions can be photographed and added to the Dewsbury Country Park Facebook page.

Ms Fallias will also be working with local community groups and school children at the museum next week.

Dewsbury Country Park is a former landfill site located between Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury Moor and Heckmondwike. It is home to Dewsbury Diamond Wood, one of only 60 in the country being planted to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee and when completed will from the largest new woodland in Yorkshire. Coun Cathy Scott, Cabinet member for Investment and Regeneration, said: “The Earthworks project came about following a series of engagement events where the local community were asked what they wanted to happen in the park. They told us that the park was difficult to find and people were concerned that they didn’t have permission to be there. Creating a welcoming and attractive entrance was identified as an action which would encourage more people to use the park and the final result will make a valuable addition to the fantastic outdoor space being created.”

Ms Fallais said: “We would like adults and children to share their ideas and knowledge about this unique green space and then take part in creative activities which will culminate in an exhibition in Dewsbury Museum over the summer. The project will feed into the development design for a more inviting park entrance.”