Wander - Art on the Yorkshire Wolds Way

Wander - Art on the Yorkshire Wolds Way 

This is an exciting programme to deliver 10 new public artworks by contemporary artists along the Yorkshire Wolds Way. Four of these works have now been completed and work is continuing on delivering the other 6.

Benches (Green numbers on the map)

10 Benches have been installed at 6 sites along the route. The benches were designed, constructed and installed by Angus Ross. The inspiration for the benches is that they spring from the ground like the Wolds streams that spring from the chalk along the Wolds. The benches are made from steam bent green oak and will be allowed to naturally weather.

Each bench features poetry created by local poet John Wedgewood Clarke who used the history and landscape to inspire his work.

The benches have been placed at good view points along the route.

• - Little Wold Plantation Bench, near South Cave
• - Millington ViewpointBench
• - Spring Dale Railway Path Bench
• - Horse Dale Viewpoint, North of Huggate Bench
• - Folkton Wold Bench
• - Sherburn Brow Bench

Walkers Shelter, Fridaythorpe (Red number 6)

The project replaced the old concrete bus shelter with a bespoke building designed and installed by Bauman Lyons. The shelter takes its form from the other buildings in the location. To link the building into its surroundings a boardwalk leads down to the village pond.

Fridaythorpe is close to the halfway point on the Yorkshire Wolds Way.

Waves and Time, Thixendale (Red number 7)

The artist Chris Drury's concept for the artwork has been imagining the ancient flow of ice and water through the area and how it has created the landscape we see today. The artwork is at the junction of three dales and the spiral indicates how an eddy might have formed to create the open space. The project involved the restoration of a dew pond using traditional methods. Dew ponds were a common feature of the Wolds Valley and were created to provide water to sheep and cattle.

The earthwork has been seeded with a conservation grass mix and will be allowed to settle into the landscape.

Enclosure Rites, West Farm, Knapton Brow (Red number 8)

The artist Jony Easterby took his inspiration for the commission from the rich landscape heritage of the area. The installation includes a group of ‘guardians' sculpted from wood and lime washed, these are modelled on small chalk figures found within local barrows (burial mounds). The installation includes a modern interpretation of a barrow to form a view point, a dew pond to act as a reflecting mirror and between the two is a wild flower seeded area and two rows of red posts made from riven oak.

The project has been grant aided by LEADER and Arts Council England.

Project development work is continuing on the remaining six sites. This includes seeking further funding to complete the projects.

Project Development

Each individual project has been commissioned by a local steering group whose membership includes the land owner, local residents, a member from the Wander champions group, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire and relevant local authority officers. The champions group steer the whole project and set the strategic objectives.