A herd of life-sized puppet animals has arrived in London, as part of its world tour to raise awareness of climate change. The Herds aims to symbolise the animals' flight from climate disaster, according to The Walk Productions, which is behind the large scale public art. The animals, created in part by students at Wimbledon College of Arts,will start near London Bridge on Friday morningand will then visit Soho, Somerset House, Coram's Fields, Camden High Street and Stratford. The herd's tour began on 9 April in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and then travelled north, through locations in Africa and western Europe. The collective works with local musicians, artists, dancers and climate activists en route. As the animals travel they will grow in number and species, as more are made by local teams. The puppets are made from upscaled and recyclable materials – primarily cardboard and plywood – with a focus on biodegradable and organic materials. The Herds stampede will feature performances, theatrical readings and music along the way anda hunt is also planned to break out on Camden High Street. After London, they will continue their journey north to Greater Manchester and then travel through Scandinavia to the Arctic Circle. The team behind the art piece also brought Little Amal to London,a 12ft (3.7m) puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director, said: "The Herds is an urgent artistic response to the climate crisis, a living, breathing call to action that stampedes across continents. "Through the beauty and ferocity of these life-size creatures, we aim to spark dialogue, provoke thought, encourage engagement and inspire real change." Listen to the best of BBC Radio London onSoundsand follow BBC London onFacebook,XandInstagram. Send your story ideas tohello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Life-sized animal puppet herd arrives in London
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"Life-sized Climate Change Awareness Puppets Begin London Tour"
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A herd of life-sized puppet animals has made its way to London as part of a global tour aimed at raising awareness about climate change. This initiative, known as The Herds, is organized by The Walk Productions and symbolizes the animals' migration away from climate-related disasters. The puppets, which are partially crafted by students from Wimbledon College of Arts, will begin their journey from London Bridge and proceed to various iconic locations throughout the city, including Soho, Somerset House, Coram's Fields, Camden High Street, and Stratford. The tour commenced on April 9 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has already traversed through several locations in Africa and Western Europe. As the puppets travel, their numbers and species will increase, thanks to the contributions of local artists and community members who will create additional puppets along the way.
The puppets are constructed from upcycled and recyclable materials, primarily cardboard and plywood, with a strong emphasis on using biodegradable and organic components. The Herds stampede will not only showcase the puppets but will also feature performances, theatrical readings, and musical components throughout the journey, including a planned event in Camden High Street. After their time in London, the herd is set to continue its journey north to Greater Manchester and will eventually travel through Scandinavia to reach the Arctic Circle. Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director of the project, described The Herds as an urgent artistic response to the climate crisis, aiming to foster dialogue, provoke thought, and inspire meaningful action against environmental challenges. This project follows the success of Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet representing a young Syrian refugee, which also garnered significant attention during its visit to London.
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