Published on Wednesday 07 May 2025
Crabs, seagulls, ospreys and snails were among the inspiration for five local children, who have seen their winning designs for park benches unveiled in Hamworthy Play Park this month.
The new nature-themed benches are part of a series of artworks, including sculptures and a mural, set to be installed across Hamworthy over the coming months as the area gets a cultural boost with funding from the UK Government.
All the artworks are inspired by the natural world and created in collaboration with the local community, and their setting within Hamworthy’s public spaces means that residents and visitors can enjoy them at no cost all year round.
The five young artists were the winners of a competition to design a bench for Hamworthy Play Park, inspired by what Hamworthy means to them – beating off stiff competition from more than 700 other pupils from Twin Sails Infant School and Hamworthy Park Junior School.
Of the imaginative designs submitted, five were chosen to be made into four benches by local artists. The winning designs all focused on nature and wildlife, with benches themed on ospreys, memories of crabbing, the cheerful flowers in the park, snails, and a seagull with armbands and goggles!
Theo said: “This bench is made out of snails and the sunshine.”
Casey-Jayne said: “Ospreys are my favourite wild animal in Hamworthy and Poole Community so that’s why I chose them to inspire my bench.”
Antosh said: "I was inspired by the seagulls in the park who normally roam the skies looking for fish to eat!"
Raphael said: “I got inspired by the crabs I see in Hamworthy”
Lauren said: “I want people to smile when they see my bench. It is inspired by the flowers in the park”
Councillor Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy said: “One of the many benefits of installing artwork in parks is that the experience is free for the whole community. Outdoor art adds beauty and character to our public spaces, making them more appealing and enjoyable for residents and visitors.”
“I must add my congratulations to these young designers on their creativity, and to those that crafted the wood – their benches are a fantastic addition to Hamworthy Play Park”
Susannah Hill, Executive Headteacher for the Federation of Hamworthy Primary Schools said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the children from Twin Sails Infant School and Hamworthy Park Junior School have had this incredible opportunity to be part of the BCP Coastal Art Trail. The enthusiasm and participation from our children across the whole Federation was truly inspiring. Thank you to the selection panel - Governors and staff - who helped select the winning entrants!
“Seeing the children's winning competition entries brought to life as benches in our local park really does validate the children's work. It was a joy to watch the children's smiles as they saw their creativity celebrated in a lasting and meaningful way, and we hope that the community enjoy them too.”
Helen Craig, Friends of Hamworthy Park said: "Hamworthy has a rich history and a tight-knit community. It's so exciting that our children will be turning our shared heritage into bench art. This project will make these benches more than just places to sit; they'll narrate our collective story, making history touchable and fascinating.
“It's a smart and warm way to celebrate our stories, showing the creativity and connections that define us. Plus, it means our unity and culture will be literally etched into the landscape of our local park —a beautiful symbol of our past and future, all seen through the imaginative eyes of our youngest residents.”
Residents and visitors will soon be able to enjoy three other outdoor art projects in the Hamworthy area, all of which are set to be completed by the end of 2025. They are:
Art in the Wild - Four sculptures on Ham Common by four local artists celebrating its local wildlife and encouraging visitors to discover more about the area’s rich natural heritage. Each sculpture will represent a species native to Ham Common: the European Nightjar, the Dartford Warbler, the White-tailed Eagle, and the Sand Lizard. Thanks to Birds of Poole Harbour for their support in shaping the project and artist selection.
Turlin Moor Mural – This is being created in engagement with Poole Communities Trust’s youth group in Turlin Moor, the charity BARI (The Bird and Recreation Initiative) and local artist, TechMoon. Art sessions on local wildlife and birds with Poole children led by Lauren Marina, will inspire a new mural for Turlin Moor. Installation is planned for later this year.
Turlin Moor Viewing platform – A new bird watching viewing platform at Turlin Moor, which includes artistic additions enhance the structure. Following engagement sessions with local young people to create drawings, poetry and stories, their ideas were translated into graphics for the new viewing platform waymarkers. The viewing platform opened in December 2024, and the artwork was part funded by a UK Government grant and partly through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) set aside for the Poole Harbour Recreation Mitigation. The viewing platform and other nature related projects around Turlin Moor have been delivered through the Lytchett Bay Nature Partnership, with support from BARI and The Parks Foundation.
All projects, except for the Turlin Moor Viewing Platform, are fully funded by the UK Government.
The bench artists were as follows:
Bees and flowers: Lauren Gardner (local AUB student)
Snail and osprey: Roger Coolbear of Rustic Mania
Seagull: Greenspace Designs Ltd
Crab: Rob Beckinsale
Art in the Wild Ham Common Sculpture artists: Brendon Murless, Roger Coolbear of Rustic Mania, Leslie Lees, Dorset Forge & Fabrication. The sculptures are expected to be installed summer 2025.