The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange Environment Centre in Leeds have been piecing together the final stages of an exciting new artwork at the centre. Over 20 different volunteers have helped to put together the three metre wide mosaic which shows a beech tree changing with the passage of the seasons.
The mosaic project is the first part of the Skelton Grange Wild Area project – a new project supported by a grant of £16,635 from Biffa Award, which aims to improve the experience of visitors to the wildlife area at Skelton Grange Environment Centre. The project will include important improvements to access routes, as well as management of pond, meadow and woodland habitats to support local wildlife. The centre is a partnership between The Conservation Volunteers and National Grid, with support from Leeds City Council.
The volunteers have been ably supported in the project by the environmental community organisation, Hyde Park Source, who did the design for the project and have run a series of mosaic workshops to enable volunteers to get involved in the project. The design was chosen to showcase the range of wildlife found at the centre, with the centrepiece being the largest tree at Skelton Grange, a beech tree commonly known as Howard!
It’s great to have had such an exciting project to launch the Skelton Grange Wild Area work with” commented Toby Roberts, Project Officer for The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange “The mosaic has been a great project to involve lots of new volunteers in, and helps by showcasing some of the local plant and animal life we get at the centre throughout the year. There will be lots more opportunities for volunteers to get involved throughout the project.”
The mosaic project has taken place as part of the Green Team, a practical workday running every Friday at the centre where volunteers can turn up to support with the management of the Skelton Grange site, working with experienced leaders to learn new skills and support a local community project.
“We’ve really enjoyed having the mosaic to do” commented Volunteer Officer Sarah Lamb “it’s been great to get creative on a project that will last long into the future, and that will give the children who visit the centre some ideas of the kinds of animals they can look out for!”