Over the last few days, a major new artwork has been installed next to the roundabout from which cars and coaches access the nature reserve. Here's what it's all about.
A couple of years ago, our Conwy Connections project made lots of improvements to the reserve, including building The LookOut and creating Y Maes behind the Visitor Centre. As part of that project, we commissioned a new artwork to be located at the top of the sliproad off Junction 18 of the A55.
The competition to design and build the artwork was won by local artist Giovanni Jacovelli, with a colourful steel sculpture called The Helping Hand. and we had hoped that the work would be installed in summer 2013, towards the end of the Conwy Connections project. But things are not always that straightforward! I won't bore you with the details, but for various reasons it has taken until now to complete the work.
The sculpture features some of the many species that are found at the reserve, and it's in three dimensions, with lots of detail on the individual animals.
Brenig Construction built the steel frame and completed the foundations at the end of last week, and yesterday with artist Giovanni Jacovelli, completed North Wales' largest jigsaw. See how many different species you can spot on it.
Our thanks to Giovanni for his patience while everything has been sorted out, to Welsh Government for permission to site the sculpture on their land, and to North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent for their help in enabling us to carry out the work, including the road closure.
Julian HughesSite Manager, Conwy