Wentworth Woodhouse art Flock carries lockdown memories

The birds are made of wood and each is hand decorated by toddlers, pensioners in care homes, parents, schoolchildren and key workers.

They make up The Flock, a huge outdoor art installation which thousands are expected to visit during October.

Heartfelt messages left on them include lyrics by The Beatles and Bob Marley and mottos such as ‘love and light will shine through the dark’ and ‘yhe first hug of loved ones will always mean the most’.

There are tributes to the NHS and loved ones who died of the virus, and political statements too. Images range from scenes of Yorkshire to caricatures of the famous.

Artist Julie Edwards of Planet Art, who developed the concept with her partner Ron Thompson, said: “The Flock is a piece of social history.

“It records memories from one of the most difficult experiences in modern times.

“People put their heart and soul into expressing what life was like for them.”

Summer visitors to the gardens decorated birds and staff and volunteers from the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, which owns the 18th-century site, spent weeks distributing many more.

More than 4,000 children from 17 local schools took part, along with young people engaged with Rotherham United Community Sports Trust.

Charities and organisations represented include Art Works South Yorkshire, the Sense Centre Rotherham, Social Eyes Rotherham, Age UK Barnsley and literacy project Grimm & Co.

Residents from Jubilee Nursing Home in Greasbrough and Cherry Trees in Kimberworth Park painted birds and heritage craftsmen and bosses from Woodhead Group, which is tackling £7.6 million of roof repairs at the site, got involved.

Sarah McLeod, trust chief executive officer, said: “We are so proud of The Flock and the overwhelming response from the public.

“It’s a vibrant and creative outpouring of all the emotions people have gone through since the March lockdown - there are happy memories from families who got to spend more time with each other, too.”

Viewings will be regulated by pre-booked slots and social distancing – see wentworthwoodhouse.org.uk