Project Update
New ‘Watery Walk’ brings nature and heritage to life in Distington
Artist Daniel Weatheritt shows Distington Primary School pupils how the new sculptures work. Image: West Cumbria Rivers Trust
A new interactive walking route is helping people discover the wildlife, landscape and heritage of Distington, thanks to support from the Potato Pot Community Benefit Fund.
Created by West Cumbria Rivers Trust, the new Watery Walk follows Stubskill Beck and features five unique oak sculptures by artist Daniel Weatheritt. The sculptures were funded through the Potato Pot Community Benefit Fund, which is administered by GrantScape on behalf of Netro Energy Limited.
Bringing nature and local heritage together
Titled Riveting Rivers, the sculpture collection takes inspiration from both the natural and industrial heritage of Distington.
Each sculpture combines handcrafted oak with illustrations depicting local wildlife and other aspects of the area’s heritage. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the artwork, with working oak cog wheels revealing the different stages of a creature’s life cycle as they are turned.
The local community also played a part in their creation. Artist Daniel Weatheritt worked with Year 3 pupils from Distington School, drawing inspiration from their ideas about the five creatures and their life cycles.
Improving the route
Funding from the Potato Pot Community Benefit Fund has also supported improvements along the walking route.
With permission from local landowners, West Cumbria Rivers Trust’s apprentices rebuilt a fence, reinstated a stile, constructed a small boardwalk, improved drainage and installed new waymarkers.
The route forms part of the Trust’s wider Watery Walks programme, which encourages people to independently explore West Cumbria’s rivers and landscapes while learning about the wildlife, heritage and communities connected to them.
Jodie Mills, Director of West Cumbria Rivers Trust, said:
“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.”
The new Distington Watery Walk and sculptures were officially unveiled on 10 September.
Supporting communities in West Cumbria
The Potato Pot Community Benefit Fund, provided by Netro Energy Limited and administered by GrantScape, supports eligible community projects within the fund’s area of benefit.
The Watery Walk is a great example of community benefit funding supporting a project that combines improvements to the local environment with opportunities for people to get outdoors, learn about nature and discover more about their area’s heritage.