Sheffield kids get creative for Little Herd sculpture

Casy Ellis, eight, places her picture on a elephant which is being decorated for Herd of Sheffield. Picture: Andrew Roe

Sheffield’s Children’s University held the event in the Winter Garden giving hundreds of youngsters the chance to make their mark on the elephant calf sculpture.

More than 40 colourful giant elephant sculptures, each sponsored by a company and individually painted by carefully-selected artists, including Sheffield’s Pete Mckee, will be displayed around the city from July to September.

Jaime Grace, seven, places her picture on a elephant which is being decorated for Herd of Sheffield. Picture: Andrew Roe

Hundreds of visitors are expected to descend on Sheffield for the trail, which will raise money for Sheffield Children’s Hospital with an auction of the sculptures at the end of the event.

The Children’s University is one of 71 education groups who have joined the Little Herd – a trail of smaller sculptures designed by pupils and youngsters set to go on display from June, ahead of the larger trail in July.

Katie Hamshaw, senior project manager at Sheffield’s Children’s University, said: “It was fantastic, there were so many children there to help us design our elephant and get involved in elephant-related crafts like mask making and fact hunting.

“The response from parents and children was amazing. There was definitely excitement and interest in the Herd of Sheffield project.”