Residents of Knowsley have been perplexed by large sculptures popping up across the borough.
Taking to Facebook, members of Prescot Chat queried what the artworks were for as they were spotted outside Tesco Prescot and at Whiston Hopsital. One user said: "How come there is a massive cat plonked outside Tesco?"
The art pieces are a key feature of Knowsley’s year as the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture and will celebrate the area's links to poet Edward Lear, who wrote his world-famous poem – The Owl & the Pussy-Cat – during his time living at Knowsley Hall.
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The Owl and the Pussy-Cat sculpture trail, an event running from June 20 to September 4, boasts 32 giant sculptures to find, dotted about Knowsley. They can be found in parks, public spaces, town centres and other locations. Organisers of the event are encouraging the public to follow the trail, find all the creatures, photograph and record it on social media via a free downloadable app.
On the app, there is a map showing all of the locations of the sculptures. Once you find a sculpture you can enter the four digit code on the plaque into the app which will help to collect heritage gems and increase your stats.
Each of the designs have been created by various artists with support from members of the local community. In addition to the 32 large sculptures on display, local schools have also been working on designs for a further 50 smaller creatures who will also be posing up across the borough.
Councillor Graham Morgan, leader of Knowsley Council, said: "Knowsley has so much heritage and culture to celebrate, and each sculpture truly has its own character that reflects this broad and important history. As well as being for our residents and communities the trail is a brilliant opportunity for visitors outside Knowsley to enjoy the trail and learn more about our borough."
Nick Byrne, business director at Wild in Art said: “We can’t wait for the public to see these beautiful sculptures. This has been a fantastic opportunity for artists across the UK to showcase their talents as well as the talents of Knowsley’s school children. We’re delighted to have collaborated with Knowsley Council on this project and to be playing such a key role in the borough’s year as Borough of Culture.”
To join in on the fun and download the app, click here.
Full list of where to find the Owl and Pussy-Cat sculptures
- A Midsummer Night Owl - Opposite Prescot Parish Church
- Athene Noctua - Halewood Park Triangle
- Aviary - Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park
- Blackie - Halewood Leisure Centre
- CC the Cat - Kirkby Train Station
- Coco Cat - Stockbridge Village
- Coco Owl - Stockbridge Village
- Colourful History - Whiston Hospital
- Edward - The Halewood Centre
- Elizabethan Fayre - Sewell Street, Prescot
- Exotic Aviary - Knowsley Village
- Foss - Liverpool Lime Street Station
- Lady Kitty - Liverpool Lime Street Station
- Luna - Liverpool John Lennon Airport
- Midsummer - Stadt Moers Park
- Mining Cat - The Pasture, Cronton
- Night Owl - Cronton Stocks
- Owl Edward - Mill Dam Park, Kirkby
- Owlvador Dali - The Flat Iron Building, Prescot
- Owly Need is Love - Huyton Town Centre
- Pea Green Love - Whiston Hospital
- Pores to Change - Bowring Park
- Quangle Wangle Cat - Huyton Bus Station
- Quills, Feathers, Nibs and Nature - The Kirkby Centre
- Ray - St Nicholas' Church, Halewood
- Sparky - Prescot Train Station
- Sunflower Owl - Court Hey Park
- The Tiger who came to Knowsley - Huyton Train Station
- Towny - The Kirkby Cat - Kirkby Market
- Twinkle - Liverpool John Lennon Airport
- Watchful Wilma - Telegraph Way, Kirkby
- Whimsy - Knowsley Village
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