A new art installation has been revealed in one of the bird watching hides at WWT Caerlaverock.
WWT Caerlaverock have worked with local artist, Kirsty Harris, and Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky to create a new installation in the Glengoyne Hide. Aiming to create make a more welcoming atmosphere in the Glengoyne Hide and encourage people to linger longer, a brief was created to find an artist who could create something in the bird hide that would embrace Glengoyne’s unhurried ethos that sometimes “the right way is the long way”.
The design began with meeting visitors, WWT Caerlaverock staff and volunteers and other local people. Harris wanted people’s experiences to inform the work. This helped to answer Harris’ question of reciprocity: if we gift our time to nature, what do we get in return? Other things Harris wanted to tackle in her design was comfort.
The hide previously had chairs with loud metal legs that were often too low to look easily out of windows. Work on the hide was completed on October 26th 2024. Now, the hide has been outfitted with an array of elements made with lots of repurposed materials.
There are three main elements. Firstly, there is the landscape timeline which goes along the banister. Next, hanging in the centre, you come to the silhouettes of birds that visit Caerlaverock. For added cosiness, there are cushions that have covers with designs inspired by visitors’ feedback.
These elements come together to create a comfortable, peaceful and inviting environment within the hide.
Kirsty Harris, artist, said: “The project that I’ve done here is about enhancing the inside of the hide to help people slow down and take in the nature around them…I hope [people] take a bit more time… that people just stay and wait and be unhurried in how they spend their time here. Nature comes along to people who are patient and there is reward in that.”
Marianne Nicholson, WWT Caerlaverock Engagement Officer, said: “It has been exciting to work with Kirsty and Glengoyne at all stages of this installation, from conception to design to our grand opening. We plan to upgrade the interiors of more of our hides soon so it was lovely to start this process with such a success.”
Come down, take some time and watch the world go by from the comfort of the Glengoyne Hide.
