The idea
A striking 3.5m corten steel hare sculpture will stand proudly in Rawtenstall's Town Square, symbolising the Pennine Moors and the locally cherished Brown Hare. This installation highlights the species' significance in Lancashire folklore and its ecological importance, fostering awareness and pride of place. Supported by Rossendale's Borough Council, the sculpture becomes a hub of cultural regeneration. A QR-coded sign provides visitors with insight, raising awareness of the unique landscape and ecology, and encouraging exploration of the Rossendale Valley. Schools and youth organisations will benefit from an educational pack, ensuring lasting engagement with local heritage and nature. A celebratory unveiling event will mark the start of the hare's journey as a beacon of connection, drawing diverse generations together to appreciate and protect the natural world. This inspiring project enriches Rossendale's cultural identity promoting sustainability and community cohesion
What we'll deliver
- Prepare area, reinforce sculpture and create foundation
- Survey structure, strengthen and install sculpture
- Design and create interpretation board with QR code acknowledging Major Backers
- Create unveiling event acknowledging all backers
- Create Education Pack and distribute to local schools and groups
Why it's a great idea
- Strengthens community connection through shared storytelling and celebration during the unveiling event.
- Promotes environmental awareness and responsibility by highlighting the Brown Hare and its ecological significance.
- Offers educational opportunities through a tailored pack, encouraging engagement with local heritage and ecology among young people.
- Boosts Rawtenstall's Town Square as a vibrant community hub and tourist destination.
- Establishes a lasting cultural legacy, intertwining Lancashire's folklore with contemporary art.
- Encourages digital engagement via the QR code, expanding accessibility to information and fostering deeper exploration of the region.
Steps to get it done
- Site Preparation
- Design and Create Interpretation and Education Pack
- Install Sculpture and Interpretation Board
- Create unveiling Event
“Sir Hare” is one of the 77 names given to the creature in a late 13th Century middle English poem or prayer - said to be recited by a hunter on his first encounter with the animal. This was supposed to deliver it to the hunter’s power.
Several Lancashire sources give us accounts of supernatural hares which shape-shift, speak to us in our language and fill us with a sense of dread. We find them in the history of the Pendle Witches and in a ghost story from across Morecambe Bay. The White Dobbie tells us of encounters with a Boggart, a ghostly figure who haunts the coastal roads, always accompanied by his hare familiar or shadow.
The sculpture is made from Corten Steel, the very same material that is was used around the entrance to the Whitaker. The rust which develops on the surface through weathering forms a protective layer, which stops it from penetrating, making it a very robust material for outside locations.
