The idea
Dating back to medieval Britain, 'the Green Man' sculptures depict a face engulfed in the undergrowth, with leaves sprouting from within. The meaning of the mysterious Green Man remains open to interpretation, perhaps a symbol of springtime renewal, though many believe they depict nature fighting back against man.
Here at Rivacre Valley, we had a beautiful Green Man statue which greeted visitors as the first thing they see when entering the Valley from the main car park. Sadly, it deteriorated over time and has recently fallen down. We wish to replace it with an even better version to continue to welcome people to the space.
We are also raising funds for a nature-themed 'scavenger hunt' trail for children. We wish to commission an artist to create wooden depictions of local wildlife creatures which will be spread throughout the Valley. We hope to raise enough to pay for a map/activity sheet design to give directions, clues and educational facts to guide families around the trail.
What we'll deliver
- Supply and install new timber for sculpture
- Commission chainsaw artist to carve new design
- Source custom-made wooden animals for scavenger hunt
- Commission artist to design trail map & information sheet for scavenger hunt
Why it's a great idea
Providing a replacement Green Man carving will not only improve the appearance of the space, but also boost community engagement and bring joy to visitors.
Our 'scavenger hunt' trail will encourage visitors of all ages to explore more of the nature reserve and engage with the local wildlife. We want people, especially children, to make the connection between the animals they're looking out for and the natural spaces in their local communities. Once people make that connection, they are far more likely to respect and do what they can to protect these spaces for the future.
Steps to get it done
- Placing order for chainsaw carving
- Installing the new Green Man sculpture
- Ordering wooden animals for nature trail
- Commissioning artist to create guided map
- Installing wooden animals at set locations along trail
