A new walking trail featuring interactive sculptures has opened in a village.<\/p>\n
West Cumbria Rivers Trust has opened the route, which follows Stubskill Beck in Distington, near Workington.<\/p>\n
Artist Daniel Weatheritt created a collection of five oak sculptures, called Riveting Rivers, which depict local birds, mammals and other elements connected to the area’s heritage.<\/p>\n
Each sculpture is interactive and features a working cog wheel which can be turned to reveal the different stages of a creature’s life cycle.<\/p>\n
Weatheritt said: “Interactivity is really important to me when developing my design ideas, and I want people to be able to do more than just look at the work.”<\/p>\n
He added the sculptures were his “most intricate woodwork creations to date”.<\/p>\n
The artist held a workshop with children from Distington Community School to get inspiration for the artwork.<\/p>\n
West Cumbria Rivers Trust said it worked with landowners to rebuild fences and create a boardwalk along the 1.9 mile (3.1km) walking route.<\/p>\n
The project is part of the trust’s Watery Walks, a programme of self-guided walks encouraging people to explore their local rivers and landscapes.<\/p>\n
West Cumbria Rivers Trust director Jodie Mills said she hoped the sculptures would help people discover something new about the environment around them.<\/p>\n
She added: “Riveting Rivers is a brilliant example of how art can help people connect with a place, bringing together stories of wildlife, industry and the local community in a way that is fun and interactive.”<\/p>\n
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