Public asked for views on proposed Curlew sculpture for Darwen Moor

People in Darwen are being asked for their views on plans for a new four-metre Curlew sculpture that could be installed beside the popular walking route up from the Sunnyhurst Pub to Jubilee Tower.

The proposed artwork, called Curlew Calling, has been developed by Darwen-based sculptor Marjan Wouda after securing funding from Arts Council England.

Wouda has spent the past year working with partners to look at the scheme’s financial, technical and environmental feasibility. The consultation is now open to decide whether it should move forward.

The sculpture would celebrate the curlew, described as one of the most distinctive and increasingly threatened bird species on the moor. The chosen site is on the very edge of the West Pennine Moors Site of Special Scientific Interest, following discussions with Natural England.

Ground investigation work has also been carried out to check the site can support the sculpture.

The design has been developed with local engineering and fabrication specialists WEC Group, with plans for apprentices there to help fabricate it, as they did with the Darwen Spitfire in the town centre. Premier Steel is also supporting the scheme.

If feedback is positive, funding support has been identified in principle from Destination Darwen, part of the Darwen Town Deal, and Darwen Town Council. The project would then move on to planning approval and other permissions.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Vice Chair of the Darwen Pride in Place Board, which oversees the Darwen Town Deal, said Marjan is already well known for her public artworks, including The Wader at Entwistle Reservoir.

He said she had worked hard on the proposal for the town she has called home for more than 25 years, and said work had already been done on environmental issues, site suitability and the practicalities of installing and maintaining a sculpture there.

“However, the moors above Darwen are a very special landscape, valued by residents and visitors alike and before any decisions are made, we want to hear what people think about Marjan’s proposal and whether they feel it would be a positive addition to the area,” he said.

“Please, if you live in the town, or visit the moors regularly, do have your say.”

Marjan Wouda recently created Dandy, a two-metre black dog sculpture in Clitheroe town centre inspired by the story of the Pendle Witches. Another of her works, a 3.6-metre hare made from the same Corten steel proposed for Curlew Calling, is due to be installed in Rawtenstall Town Square this autumn.

Wouda said: “Having lived in Darwen for more than 25 years, I have come to love the moors deeply. It is a place where people can leave the built environment behind and experience something wild and expansive.

“One bird, more than any other, embodies the spirit of Darwen Moor. The curlew’s haunting and unforgettable call is something many people will recognise, even if they have never actually seen the bird itself.

“By placing this sculpture at the entrance to the moor, I hope to draw attention to the wider moorland ecology and encourage people to stop, look and appreciate the remarkable landscape on their doorstep.

“At the same time, it would celebrate what makes Darwen special and provide visitors with another reason to spend time in our wonderful town, encouraging them to support our local businesses.”

The consultation is part of the wider Destination Darwen programme, which aims to improve access to the moors and Jubilee Tower through upgraded routes and green spaces across the town.

Key highway improvements have already been completed, with the next phase of investment in local parks now being prepared in collaboration with local Friends Groups.

People can complete the online survey, pick up a paper copy at Darwen Library, or attend one of the drop-in sessions with Marjan Wouda.

Those sessions will be held at Darwen Library on Wednesday, September 23, from 1pm to 3pm, and at Darwen Market on Saturday, September 26, from 9:30am to 11:30am.

The consultation runs for four weeks from Monday, September 7 to midnight on Monday, October 5.

To have your say, complete the short online survey here.

Paper copies will also be available at Darwen Library.