Art / public art
Art installation offers sanctuary for wildlife and people
Dorset-based artist-designer duo Russell Denman and Eleanor Goulding, known as Denman+Gould, have created a new permanent public art installation at Cribbs Causeway that transforms a sustainable urban drainage system into a vibrant haven for wildlife.
Produced by Ginkgo Projects, Cribbs Canopy was commissioned by Baylis Estates Ltd, as part of their retail and leisure development in north Bristol.
In the midst of this fast-paced, urbanised environment, a multi-layered habitat offers sanctuary for birds and animals, as well as the people taking time out of their busy lives to immerse themselves in a natural landscape.
is needed now More than ever
The meadow has been designed to attract both people and animals
“Amidst the hum of traffic and the bustle of shoppers, the song of skylarks, goldfinches, wrens, blackbirds, and sparrows rises – a quiet insistence of the natural world” the producers explain.
“Flag irises, waterlilies, knapweed, hazel, and guelder rose now thrive here, planted with care and intention.”
Visitors looking out for local wildlife
A series of site-specific artworks are now set within meadow planting, pre-existing mature trees, and a newly created pond, to help support biodiversity and reconnect – or deepen the relationship – between humanity and the local pockets of nature that surround them.
Using ethical materials including English oak and Robinia timber, Denman+Gould have crafted sculptural pieces to support a range of invertebrates, birds, bats and pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths.
The centrepiece of Cribbs Canopy, as seen from underneath
Standing high above the meadow, the centrepiece of their installation is a tower-like geometric-inspired structure clad in cedar shingles. Around it, cluster a number of separate boxes in which wildlife can nest or take shelter.
In developing their approach, the duo consulted with ecological experts in order to maximise the ‘habitat value’ of their creations.
Holes in wood will attract insects and bees
In particular, they were keen to embed within their work nesting opportunities for at-risk bird species such as sparrows and starlings, whose populations have undergone an alarming decline in the UK in recent years.
“This is a place that can remind us that we can live with wildlife” the artists say. “We need these spaces more than ever: for our wellbeing, to show that we care, and to quite literally house wildlife.”
Denman+Gould in their Dorset studio – photo: courtesy the artists
For Ginkgo Projects director Tom Littlewood, the commission is testament to the power of art as a foundational pillar for wellbeing. “Artists help us reimagine the world around us, from city streets to natural landscapes”, he enthuses.
“Denman+Gould’s Cribbs Canopy offers a powerful vision of how both built and wild environments can support diverse forms of life.”
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Cribbs Canopy is located adjacent to Sytner Land Rover, Merlin Road, Patchway. The What3Words location is moth.chief.bits.
Cribbs Canopy was produced by Ginkgo Projects and commissioned by Baylis Estates Ltd.
All photos (unless stated): Charles Emerson
Read next:
- Confluence marks the end of its residency programme with final event ‘Body of Water’
- Three-year wildflower installation and audio experience coming to Broadmead
- World-renowned Bristol artists John Wood and Paul Harrison win Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus public art commission
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