Can Do animal zoo art unveiled

The creation is made up of over 250 individually made animals which have been produced by 100 young disabled people from across North Yorkshire during the last year.

Henshaw’s Art and Craft Centre was once the location for Knaresborough Zoo and this piece of art will not only commemorate the zoo but also serve as a long term reminder of what young people with different abilities can do when they work together.

The Ark can be seen at any time when the gardens are open to the public.

Groups that have worked on the sculpture are - Springwater School, Forest School, Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre, Ripon Community Links, Green Dragon Crafts Knaresborough, Oaks Play Scheme Northallerton, Purple Patch Harrogate, PHaB Bradford, Breathing Space and Can Do Yorkshire’s Steering Group.

Harrogate College helped fire all the animals for the sculpture project, which was helped by lead artists Zoë Nicholson, Catt van Leijen and Shaeron Caton-Rose.

Can Do is part of Leonard Cheshire Disability and works with young disabled people, aged 16-35 years, helping them join community volunteering opportunities.

The charity provides the skills and knowledge to enable disabled people to lead more independent lives.

Can Do is open to those with long term health conditions or disabilities, including physical, visual or hearing impairments, mental health and learning disabilities like dyslexia and dyspraxia.