Public art meets climate action in THE HERDS—a monumental, continent-spanning migration of puppet animals making their way from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. Crafted with extraordinary care and animated by teams of volunteers, these life-sized creatures tell a powerful story about displacement, resilience and the effects of climate breakdown.
After roaming through cities and neighbourhoods across Greater Manchester, THE HERDS reach their final local destination: the wild, watery haven of Pennington Flash Country Park. Here, surrounded by nature, they find a moment of calm before the long journey north continues.
Visitors are invited to explore the park’s scenic trails and quiet corners as the 70 puppet animals settle among the trees, reeds and water. A lion might be glimpsed in tall grass. A giraffe could be seen against the green of the woodland. A kudu may be watching silently from a shaded clearing. This is a space for gentle exploration—where patience and stillness might lead to remarkable sightings.
Unlike a parade or performance, this experience encourages reflection. The animals are not here to entertain, but to prompt thought about what it means to seek safety, to cross borders, and to lose the places once called home. Their presence is a poignant reminder of the species and communities already being displaced by environmental change.
THE HERDS at Pennington Flash is part of the Flashes Festival of Nature, a wider celebration of local wildlife and wild places, continuing on Sunday 6 July. Don’t miss this rare and moving encounter—where the power of art meets the urgency of the natural world.
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