Youngsters are being given the chance to design a daffodil for a huge art installation at a Cumbrian castle.
Organisers of Ten Thousand Daffodils, a ceramic installation set to be show in the gardens at Lowther Castle next April, have launched a design-a-daffodil competition.
The competition is aimed at young people from Cumbrian primary schools, secondary schools, further education colleges and youth groups. Entries will be judged by the High Sheriff of Cumbria, Alan McViety and Lowther Castle head gardener, Andrew Brunsendorf.
It is open to youngsters aged five to 11, 11 to 16 and 16 to 21. The winning institution in each category will see their design made into one of 10 large daffodil heads that will form part of the mass display.
These, along with seven further large heads being designed by a number of notable figures, will be auctioned at the end of the installation with funds raised going to the designer’s or designing body’s nominated charity. Winning entries will be announced in March.
The project has been put together by Dockray-based potter Helen Ratcliffe and aims to raise £300,000 for six charities. These inclulde Another Way, Sunbeams Music Trust, Ullswater Catchment Management CIC and Friends of the Ullswater Way, all local; the The New Horizon Youth Centre and James’ Place, both national.
Since the event was announced in the early autumn, over 250 volunteers have signed up to make the daffodils, with production taking place on the Lowther Estate.
Helen said: “We are keen to have as many people as possible involved with 10,000 daffodils. Our fund-raising goals are ambitious. We also believe strongly that this is an event about community, about people pulling together to do something good. In this spirit, we look forward to receiving lots of entries from schools and youth groups across the UK.”
For full Design-a-Daffodil competition entry details and application form, visit www.tenthousanddaffodils.org/competition
