A new piece of outdoor artwork has been installed in the Lake District to celebrate the restoration of a beck.
West Cumbria Rivers Trust and the National Trust have unveiled the artwork at Barrow Bay on Derwentwater, to mark the restoration of Barrow Beck.
Created by Northumbrian based artist Daniel Weatheritt, the artwork sits beside the footpath near Ashness Gate jetty, at the point where Barrow Beck flows into Derwentwater, near the new boardwalk.
The site was recently restored as part of the National Trust’s Riverlands programme, reconnecting the beck with its natural course and improving habitat for wildlife.
The sculpture at Barrow Bay aims to celebrate efforts to restore and revive freshwater habitats in the Derwent catchment.
Carved in oak and finished with wood stains, the sculpture takes the form of a layered storybook design. The piece features carvings inspired by the surrounding landscape and wildlife, including nearby landmarks such as Ashness Bridge, views across Derwentwater and Catbells alongside design elements focussed on water flow and associated flora and fauna.
At the centre of the sculpture is a small ‘storybook window’, framing a view through to the lake beyond.
The commission forms part of a wider engagement programme delivered jointly by the National Trust’s Riverlands Project and West Cumbria Rivers Trust, which works with communities to explore, understand and care for their rivers.
Young people from West Cumbria Rivers Trust’s Youth Panel played a key role in creating the themes of the artwork through a creative workshop with the artist.
Daniel said: “The Drawn to Water sculpture has been an incredible opportunity to connect creatively with the Cumbrian landscape, celebrating the diversity of animal species and the important river habitat conservation work undertaken by these conservation trusts.
“The artwork has proved to be the most complex hardwood piece I have designed and built to date, testing my traditional woodworking skills and encouraging me to learn new image making techniques, including pyrography and experimenting with wood stains.
“I’m proud to see the sculpture installed on location at Derwentwater and would like to thank West Cumbria Rivers Trust’s Apprentice team for their efforts during transportation and installation.”
