The Parks Trust are delighted to unveil The Bee and the Butterfly, a brand-new artwork that celebrates wildlife found in Milton Keynes. Visitors to Howe Park Wood can now find the new art adorned to an exterior wall of the Education Centre.
A colourful mosaic featuring local flora and fauna, The Bee and the Butterfly is a creation by Milton Keynes resident and artist, Melanie Mosaics, who took inspiration from creatures found in the ancient woodland and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Melanie says “I hope people enjoy this mosaic as much as I have enjoyed creating it. I hope it inspires visitors to think about the role of nature in our everyday lives, and the vital importance of pollinators and native species“.
The Parks Trust, the charity caring for the city’s green spaces, was awarded Section 106 funding from Milton Keynes City Council for this project.
Sarah Griffiths, Outdoor Learning and Interpretation Manager at The Parks Trust says “Melanie’s submission, and creation, perfectly captured the purpose for this new public art piece – to raise awareness of the importance of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Without them, many of the crops we rely on for food and clothing, as well as many wild plants, would disappear”.
The Bee and the Butterfly joins a celebrated collection of public art found in Milton Keynes’ parkland, including another work by Melanie – a beautiful white barn owl, that can be found on the Gyosei Art Trail. The Parks Trust cares for more than 30 pieces of public art, from the world-famous Concrete Cows of the 1970’s to the modern Light Pyramid in Campbell Park, and recent installation of Capture The View at Furzton Lake.
For more information about Milton Keynes parks, public art, and wildlife, visit theparkstrust.com
