Avon Heath Country Park
Enjoying the site
Avon Heath encourages children to get involved in all its activities.
The material for the sculptures will be sourced from pine wood that has been felled on the site during the conservational management of the heathland. It is hoped that the carvings will be in place in the park by summer, when the site is at its busiest with visitors.
Visitors flock to the Park because it offers something for everyone. Dog walkers risk the early-morning chill to stroll briskly through the numerous walkways, groups of children eagerly descend on the activity-packed Visitor Centre, families take advantage of the wildlife tours on offer, and cyclists meander along the dedicated cycle paths and trails. This year, 2008, will also see a lot of improvements being made to the site, such as installing new playground equipment, refurbishing and extending the visitor centre and installing new planters that will house the new sculptures at the entrance of the park for all to see.
Exciting educational projects are facilitated by the Park’s rangers.
The Park also specialises in catering for the young and has a full educational programme designed to complement the National Curriculum. The site has an activity-packed Visitor Centre where children can take a hands-on approach to discover more about wildlife, from matching birds to their songs using interactive buttons, to creating beetle drawings by playing dice games!
ICM’s Chairman, Dr Alistair Somerville Ford, will sponsor the children’s workshops in 2008. He said of the project: “I’m really pleased to be able to provide such interactive classes for children visiting the site. Workshops such as these offer a great opportunity to have fun and appreciate all that Avon Heath has to offer. Hands-on activities create memories that young people will keep with them throughout their lives, and these workshops will hopefully inspire them to look after their local nature site and possibly get involved in the future.”
For more information about Avon Heath Country Park, including opening times and upcoming events, visit Dorset County Council’s website at: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/avonheath
Examples of Mike Chapman’s work can be found at: www.mikechapmansculptor.com