On Saturday 12th July, Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes officially unveiled its new biodiversity sculpture as part of a summer resident event, ‘Bugg-ingham Palace’, at The Poppies development in Maidstone.
Named by pupils at Archbishop Courtenay Primary School, the sculpture was created as part of a collaboration between Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes, which commissioned award-winning environmental artist, Will Nash, to design and construct a habitable sculpture.
Will Nash encouraged pupils to collect natural materials, such as pinecones, bamboo, sticks and logs, to contribute towards the sculpture’s interior, creating a diverse habitat for pollinating insects to call home. This will aim to attract insects such as solitary bees, millipedes and beetles. In addition, the top of the sculpture includes a hidden rain fed pool to encourage birds to have a dip in warm weather, and gaps between the logs are suitable for birds and bats to nest and roost in.
The sculpture, which was commissioned in June 2024 and installed a year later, was inspired by the hexagonal structure of calcite crystals. Calcite, a common constituent of limestone, forms part of the bedrock of Maidstone and has been quarried locally to make building blocks since the time of the Romans.
Working with specialist steel fabricators at Architectural Fabrication Ltd in East Sussex, the structural material of the sculpture is made from Corten, a steel alloy with added chromium, copper and nickel with the surface of the metal portraying a variable patina of bronze, rust and copper hues. The colours and texture compliment the natural environment and does not require any treatment, making it environmentally friendly.
As part of the unveiling event, residents gathered for an afternoon of fun with a BBQ, ice cream and entertainment, including live music from a local steel band, lawn games and face painting. Will Nash was also present to speak with residents about the sculpture, including its positive impact on the environment.
Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent added: “The event was a fantastic way to celebrate the arrival of our new sculpture at The Poppies and to showcase Will Nash’s hard work, while also enabling residents to enjoy the warm weather and get to know their neighbours. We are excited to see wildlife and nature flourish around the sculpture and will be hosting an array of activities to learn about the importance of biodiversity with residents and community groups in months to come.”
Phil Hurring, Marketing Manager at Barratt David Wilson Southern Counties commented: “It was brilliant to see families, friends and neighbours taking the time to come together and celebrate the community at The Poppies. We are committed to creating homes for nature as well as our residents, and the sculpture Will has created will continue to evolve and come to life as different species use it for shelter and food.”
Will Nash, Multidisciplinary Artist and Sculptor, concludes: “Bugg-ingham Palace was a joy to create and the community engagement from start to finish has been nothing short of special. In recent years, I have dedicated my artwork to not only be enjoyed by humans, but also wildlife. This sculpture reflects the already buzzing community of The Poppies, and I enjoyed speaking with residents on the day about how the sculpture will positively impact the development’s environment.”
The Poppies has a range of open green spaces to enjoy, including a dedicated play area. Other ecological features include pollinator friendly planting, trees and hedgerows, as well as bat and bird boxes, habitat log piles, and hedgehog highways.
For more information about Will Nash, please visit: www.willnash.co.uk
