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Woodland Blooms with New 'Mud Maiden' Sculpture
13 Jun
Summary
- A 'mud maiden' sculpture named Flora adorns a former colliery woodland.
- The artwork aims to contrast the area's industrial past with nature.
- The project enhances visitor appeal and encourages physical activity.
A woodland on the site of a former colliery has a new, striking addition: a "mud maiden" sculpture named Flora. Artist Simon Delount designed the flower-covered clay and soil figure as part of improvements to the Pitwood at Edlington. These enhancements were made possible by a grant from Sport England, aimed at boosting physical activity in the area.
The woodland and footpaths were established on land formerly used for slag heaps after the Yorkshire Main Colliery closed. Flora, situated in a wildflower meadow, offers a visual contrast to the coal industry's past environment. Visitors from surrounding areas have expressed surprise at discovering this revitalized space.
The Pitwood improvements are part of broader initiatives like the Doncaster Future Parks programme and the Get Doncaster Moving health drive. Regular visitors, like Zoe Keeton, have praised Flora's beauty and the overall appeal of the revitalized area for activities like dog walking. Volunteers from the "Friends" group contribute to planting and site maintenance, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
