Conningbrook Lakes

Inspired by nature with a focus on a diverse and abundant wildlife

FrancisKnight was appointed to produce an overall Public Art Strategy for Conningbrook Lakes and to deliver a public art programme for both the residential area and the country park.  

The former quarry site at Conningbrook Lakes underwent a multi million-pound development of 300 new homes in a lakeside setting, together with the improvement of facilities at the country park to support its existing water-based and running-track leisure facilities.

FrancisKnight appointed and collaborated with Lead Artist Kerry Lemon to assist with the delivery of the client team’s design and place-making aspirations and to help discharge a public art requirement as set out in a planning condition.

The resulting Public Art Strategy ensured consistency of approach and a unique identity for the site whilst maintaining value for money and effectiveness for each stage of the project.

Artists Tim Norris, Julia Clarke and Outdoor Studios were commissioned to create work to celebrate the unique environment of Conningbrook Lakes with a particular focus on the diverse and abundant wildlife. Tim Norris’s sculptural bird hide for the DWELL commission will be installed in early 2024.

Julia’s willow sculpture, The Loop, was installed in October 2021 for the EXPLORE commission and was located by the water’s edge at the entrance to the village lakeside.

Julia’s accompanying sculpture, The Birds, was installed in July 2023 and comprised of seven ‘birds’ elevated from the land as if in flight. The large-scale willow sculpture was situated at the entrance to Conningbrook Avenue by the main lake. A press release was issued by Chartway Partnerships Group – read more here.

A further commission INTERACT took place alongside the projects. This temporary art programme engaged local schools and park users in workshops and supported the main commissions as they were developed.

Client

_The Chartway Group Ltd

_Latimer Developments Ltd

_Ashford Borough Council

Artists

_Kerry Lemon

_Julia Clarke

_Tim Norris

_Outdoor Studios

Outcomes

_Public art strategy

_Artist procurement

_Project management

_Community engagement

“We are delighted that the first art installation at Conningbrook Lakes and has been welcomed by residents. ‘The Loop’ really embodies the ethos of the scheme, embracing nature literally on your doorstep. These art pieces will be a place to stop and breath, feel the tranquillity of the surroundings and hopefully give our residents a lot of pleasure.”

Tim McLoughlin, Partnerships Director, Chartway Group

A Series of Free Community Workshops

A series of free community workshops for local people and groups are being delivered as part of a programme of public art at Conningbrook Lakes by Chartway Group, Latimer Developments and Ashford Borough Council, who commissioned public art consultancy FrancisKnight and Outdoor Studios to deliver the Conningbrook Lakes project. This has included the installation earlier this year of a new lakeside artwork ‘The Loop’.

Family Art Safari

Families enjoyed a workshop led by local artist Andy Evans. Five families attended the Family Art Safari around Conningbrook Lakes Country Park, to explore the nature trails around the lakes and participate in fun, nature-themed art and craft activities, some using items foraged from the area.

“It’s nice to see the kids interacting with the wildlife and people have been walking around and seeing what we’ve got here at Conningbrook Lakes Country Park. It’s been a nice day out.”

Stephanie Sainsbury, Local Resident

Wild Weaving Session

Gemma Gottelier led a Wild Weaving session with the Kent and Medway Communication and Assistive Technologies service (KELSI) – a regional service with a range of professionals (including therapy assistant practitioners and teachers) providing specialist multi-disciplinary assessment, intervention and review of specialist communication and Assistive Technology (AT) for children and young people.

“Inspired by Tim’s commission and water birds found at the lakes, the group collected sticks and other plants & flowers. They created looms with sticks & wools, weaving their foraged natural materials into them. Some made Ojo De Dios (God’s eye), South American spiritual/ protective weaves.”

Gemma Gottelier, Local Artist

Flora and Fauna Workshop

Outdoor Studios were delighted to host the Ashford branch of the Headway East charity, who rehabilitate adults with acquired, traumatic and congenital brain injury whilst offering Carers’ Support service to their families and carers. Artist Laura Thomas led the group on a printmaking session on the shores of the Conningbrook Lakes country park, exploring mono and sun printing using natural items collected from the surrounding lake environment. These printing techniques are simple but effective and ideally suited to different levels of sensory impairment.

“We had a great time with Laura. It was a beautiful day by the lake. Laura was very patient with my clients and gave them all a lot of time individually. The clients were initially hesitant but once they understood what they were doing they became very creative!”

Inspired by nature with a focus on a diverse and abundant wildlife

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