Julia says , “ The concept came from when I was taking part in the arts residency at Conningbrook Lakes back in 2017 . I spent three days drawing what I saw and noticed . I was thinking of ways to encourage residents to think about the wildlife right next to them and to explore and find out more about the natural spaces around them .”
She continues , “ The Loop is an abstract form , handwoven from large willows on a steel frame . Sitting at the entrance to Conningbrook Lakes , it aims to entice you to explore the rest of the park .
“ I want residents and visitors to interact with the sculpture and engage with the space . I want them to be physically uplifted and to be able to step and walk through the sculpture and see through it , framing the view of the lakes and park around them .”
The next of Julia ’ s commissions will be installed this summer . The Birds , also part of the Explore theme , will be located close to the start of Conningbrook Avenue at the main lake and will also be made of willow .
A third artwork , by Tim Norris , will follow and will be inspired by the Dwell theme .
Exploring the Interact theme , and continuing the involvement of the community , a series of workshops will take place this summer , led by Outdoor Studios .
Mary-Anne Staddon at Chartway Group said , “ The ethos of Conningbrook Lakes is all about embracing nature on your doorstep and the artworks are central to that . They add to making it a special and unique place to live and visit here .
“ The public art programme helps bring character and identity to our new community here in harmony with the natural surroundings , with art as a part of everyday life . The artworks provide a talking point and a way to interact with art and nature . We are looking forward to bringing new artworks to Conningbrook Lakes over time .”
Conningbrook Lakes is a new waterside development of 300 high-quality , contemporary , new homes . Set within Conningbrook Country Park on the outskirts of Ashford , there are lakes , ponds , woodland and grassland areas to explore .
Homes at Conningbrook Lakes have an emphasis on sustainability and energy efficiency , all have their own gardens and come with parking , and many enjoy waterside or countryside views .
For more information visit : www . conningbrooklakes . com or call the sales office on 01233 215155