A giant oak arrow wood sculpture, created by Rainworth schoolchildren as part of a community project, has been unveiled.

Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust revealed the new sculpture at Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve after a year-long collaboration.

The sculpture pays tribute to the area’s heritage, its past and present, and its deep connection with legend.

It was delivered by Inspire Youth Arts through the Miner2Major Landscape Partnership Scheme, a five-year project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund that celebrates the diverse wildlife, important habitats, and rich cultural heritage of Sherwood Forest.

The sculpture was created with young people from Dawn House and Joseph Whitaker schools, Rainworth, and Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust young rangers.

Artist Richard Janes ran workshops with the schoolchildren, working with them on themes of mining, local heritage, and nature.

They were introduced to wood-carving techniques and then given the opportunity to add their own carvings to the sculpture themselves, under Richard’s guidance.

The sculpture’s final design features an image of a miner and local wildlife species from the Rainworth Heath site.

Crafted entirely from oak, the final artwork resembles a colossal arrow shot into the ground. It has been designed to fuse the rich history of the area with the local landscape and blend into the natural surroundings of the reserve.

The oak arrow sits at the heart of Rainworth Heath and will weather naturally.

Visitors to the area are encouraged to visit the sculpture and discover more of the site and its local walks. It is located adjacent to the former Rufford Colliery site and entry is free, all year.

Erin McDaid, head of communications at the Wildlife Trust, said: “The project to develop a new sculpture for our Rainworth Heath Nature Reserve has been a great example of the benefits of collaboration and partnership.

“Nature has long been a real inspiration for art and artists and we hope that the new installation inspires people to visit the reserve and adds a new dimension to time spent there.”

Rainworth Heath is managed by the Wildlife Trust and is one of the last remaining areas of heathland in Nottinghamshire, home to many species of birds, insects, and plants.

Sculptor Richard is continuing to work with both schools and will be producing sculptures for them that link with the Rainworth Heath work.

Steve Little, scheme manager of Miner2Major, added: “We’re thrilled to have collaborated with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and Inspire Youth Arts to bring this fabulous project to the Rainworth Heath site.

“We’d like to thank the wonderfully- creative pupils at Dawn House and Joseph Whittaker schools, who contributed to the design. Richard’s sculpture is a wonderful addition to the reserve and will undoubtedly inspire visitors for years to come.”

Rachel Yarnall, head of arts at Joseph Whitaker, said: “Our students really benefited from this added cultural experience to their creative studies.

“They were excited to have been able to carve this sculpture with a local artist.”