Forest Fire

A massive 15 feet tall scaffolding Norman castle and four huge trees complete with foliage were the main features of a magnificent fire sculpture in The National Forest. It was the climax of the Lantern Procession through the town of Coalville, North West Leicestershire, with 400 lanterns made and carried by local primary schoolchildren.

1500 people witnessed the spectacle in Coalville Park, after a dance performance and lantern sword fighting around the castle by secondary schoolchildren. “The excitement in the park was huge,” said Rhiannon Harte, Project Co-ordinator for The National Forest’s LANDshapes project. “We wanted to create a dramatic and highly visible symbol of the effect of the Norman invasion on the local landscape. The Normans instigated land enclosure which put much of the forest, a rich source of food, firewood and building materials, out of the reach of common people.

“The fire sculpture depicted the destruction of the castle and the return of the trees, a reference to today’s creation of The National Forest for everyone to enjoy.” The event was co-ordinated by Mantle Arts and The National Forest LANDshapes project, and funded by North West Leicestershire District Council, the Arts Council of England and Local Network Children’s Fund.