This summer, the tranquil walled gardens at Cannon Hall Museum will become the setting for a striking new installation of steel dragonflies.
Organised by Barnsley Hospice, Wings of Memory is part of the charity’s Dragonfly Appeal and will see hundreds of handcrafted steel dragonflies hover throughout the gardens between Friday 31st July and Thursday 20th August.
Each sculpture carries the potential to tell a story. Supporters – whether families, local businesses or individuals – will be able to sponsor a dragonfly in memory of a loved one or simply to contribute to the hospice’s work.
The Dragonfly Appeal is particularly close to the heart of Mark Williams, a volunteer gardener at Barnsley Hospice who has personally experienced the exceptional care and support of the hospice team.
His wife Zena spent her last few days in Barnsley Hospice before she sadly passed away in June 2024.
Mark and Zena had many happy days at Cannon Hall walking around the grounds and both shared a love of dragonflies.
“I’ve got so many happy memories at Cannon Hall. Even when Zena got too poorly to be able to walk, I took her there in a wheelchair and pushed her around the gardens. I remember her saying ‘You’ll never be able to push me up here to the walled garden’ but we did it. To have a dragonfly in the spot where we used to sit and watch the world go by is wonderful.”
The dragonflies have been made by metal work artists Brian and George Fell who are based at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. You can order a dragonfly for a suggested minimum donation of £49 and they will be yours to keep after the installation has ended.
Funds raised will go directly toward sustaining the hospice’s services, helping to provide specialist care and support for patients and their families.
Order yours online or call 01226 244244.
