Creative children’s imaginations have been brought to life in the heart of Cairnhill Woods, with a series of unique carved wooden animal statues now installed there.
The project - led by the Council’s Streetscene Technical Support Team, Cairnhill Woods Group and Westerton Primary School’s Eco Committee - gave pupils the opportunity to see their ideas transformed from drawings into permanent artworks, creating a distinctive new feature for visitors to enjoy as they explore the woods.
A competition was run by Cairnhill Woods Group with pupils asked to design sculptures based on animals that could be found in and around the Woods.
The four winning designs – funded by the Council and the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund - showcase the children’s love of the natural world, featuring tawny owls, hedgehogs and a woodpecker, frogs and caterpillars, and squirrels.
Councillor Pamela Marshall – Vice Convener of the Council’s Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets Committee - officially unveiled the impressive new sculptures along with some pupils from Westerton Primary School.
Congratulations to all the talented young people who took part in this fantastic project. The winning designs showed such wonderful creativity, imagination and enthusiasm for our local wildlife, and it has been brilliant to see those ideas brought to life as these wooden sculptures.
“I’m sure the children will be incredibly proud to see their designs taking pride of place in the Woods, and I hope visitors will enjoy discovering the sculptures for years to come.
“Thanks also to Cairnhill Woods Group for helping to organise the competition. This is a wonderful example of how we can give young people a voice in shaping and celebrating the places they live.”
Since 2008, Cairnhill Woods Group, has been working with the Council to improve the Woods and holds activities and events there.
The group’s Toby Wilson said, “The Woods are such an important part of the area and enjoyed by so many people.
"The new sculptures are a wonderful addition, and we hope that everyone will have fun spotting them on their visits. It was great to work with the Council and Westerton Primary School to get them installed."
Westerton Primary teacher Lori McNeill was the lead on the school’s Eco Committee at the time of the competition.
She was delighted to visit the woods with some of the school’s pupils to see the winning designs in situ.
Lori said, “Choosing the winners was no easy task with so many imaginative and wonderful entries submitted.
“Although some of those creative winners have now moved on to secondary school, we are lucky enough to teach their younger siblings, who proudly passed along the exciting news that the sculptures are now installed.
“We hope these beautiful wooden statues remain a lasting feature for years to come, serving as a lovely reminder of what can happen when nature and community come together.”
