Red kite artwork shown in Tesco at Rowlands Gill

Jul 31 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

SHOPPERS will be able to check out the story of the reintroduction of red kites in the North East.

Artwork titled Spirit of the Valley takes the form of a 16-metre frieze which runs across the front of the Tesco store in Rowlands Gill in the Derwent Valley, where the 94 young kites were released in the five-year project.

Spirit of the Valley depicts the landscape, heritage and wildlife of the valley, from Swalwell to Lintzford, as well as following a year in the life of red kites.

The frieze is the work of Rowlands Gill wildlife artist Alan Mould, who has made a speciality of depicting kites.

Throughout the six screens of the mural, the red kites are a constant element, acting as a guide through the landscape in which the village and the Tesco store is situated.

To ensure that local people's thoughts and views of the valley were included in the artwork, the Northern Kites Project undertook a community consultation exercise that involved local people, via the store, as well as Rowlands Gill, Highfield and St. Joseph primary schools.

Some of the children's artwork that formed part of the consultation was on display in the store when the frieze was unveiled yesterday.

Karen Henderson, deputy manager at Tesco Rowlands Gill, said: “ The artwork will help customers to feel a real sense of pride in being part of the process that has helped the red kites return to our region.”

Northern Kites project manager, Keith Bowey, said: “The Tesco store was an obvious choice for the artwork as it sits at the heart of the area and red kites can be seen over the store every day.”