CRANSLEY HOSPICE TRUST 25th ANNIVERSARY ART INSTALLATION

“Robins appear when loved ones are near”

A breast of 500 black and white clay robins will flock in-memory of loved ones to the Chester House Estate in Northamptonshire in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Cransley Hospice in June.

The installation “Robins appear when loved ones are near” will be made up of 500 individually handcrafted clay robins, designed and created by artisan potter Louise Crookenden-Johnson for the 25th anniversary celebration in her studio in Kettering.

They are not just robins, these are limited edition robins, each stamped with a number between 1 and 500. The robin has been designed as a bird feeder with a hollow back for bird seed to attract other feathered friends into peoples gardens, to bring a little joy even on the darkest of days.

The 500 robins will be installed at Chester House to make a stunning spectacle in a design created by Louise. The in-memory installation will be open and free for people to come and visit, to enjoy, and to remember loved ones.

Louise Gurney, Community Fundraising and Events Development Manger at Cransley Hospice Trust said “We hope the robins have a wide appeal; to people who like birds and gardening and of course those whom like us, believe that when a robin appears a loved one is near. An installation of this kind is a first for Cransley Hospice Trust and for the area, and we are hoping to raise around £20,500 from sales, donations and corporate support.

The funds raised will enable us to continue to support the specialist care and services provided by the hospice and in the community by the hospice at home team. Together we can be there for the next 25 years”.

Louise Crookenden-Johnson said “Its been an honour to be involved in this very special commemorative in-memory installation for Cransley Hospice Trust, and to be supporting the work that they do for the community of North Northamptonshire. It’s been fun working with the team to create the robin and I’m really looking forward to putting the installation together, seeing all 500 birds flock together for the finished design at Chester House in the summer. I think it’ll be quite a sight!”

The robins are available to purchase from today, via the Cransley Hospice Trust website www.cransleyhospice.org.uk and cost £25 each.

Cransley Hospice is hoping to raise an additional £250,000 during their anniversary year to support and develop end of life care for the community of North Northamptonshire, so any additional donations or support will be very gratefully received.

For more information about the 25th anniversary and how you can support the charity please contact their fundraising team on 03000 274040 or email fundraising@cransleyhospice.org.uk.