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The Gloucesters

Duke of Gloucester unveils hare themed pathway in Cirencester

The Duke of Gloucester unveiled a new hare themed pathway in Cirencester.

The Duke of Gloucester in 2008

The Duke of Gloucester in 2008

The themed trail follows the River Churn through-out Cirencester, allowing residents and those visiting to better explore the marvellous green spaces such as the wild flower meadows.

Designed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, The Hare Festival Way, is supported by the Cirencester Community Development Trust, together with Cirencester Town Council.

HRH The Duke of Gloucester will reveal the first two hare sculptures and the first interpretation boards that are located along the route at City Bank.

“We are very proud to have such high-profile recognition for the Cirencester Hare Festival Way,” Will Masefield of the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said. “We’re working to ensure that access to nature is an everyday experience for people in Cirencester and to benefit local wildlife such as kingfishers, otters and water voles.”

In total their will be six interpretation boards and seven hares along the completed routes, as well as a brand new accessible nature reserve and updated habitats throughout.

Cirencester is known for its March Hare Festival in which local companies and organizations are invited to sponsor a larger than life blank 3D hare sculpture and have it decorated by a local artist.

The glass-reinforced plastic 5ft tall hares complete with sponsors and artists on a plaque then appear through-out the town, in parks, on parapets, on pavements, in shops, cafes and restaurants to pay homage to their link with Cirencester.

An extra 50 life-sized versions are displayed in shop windows, all part of an art walk for excited locals and visitors alike.

At the end of the festival the hares are auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. In 2014, they rose £73,000 which went towards building The Hare Festival Way.

Currently the festival is run every second year using the in-between years to help gain funds for the next year until it grows large enough to hold the Festival as an annual event. The next festival will be in 2016.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia