One of the things I'd planned to see in Ilkley was the new gravity-fed fountain, designed by local artists Juliet and Jamie Gutch. It replaces an old fountain in the same place that, like this new version, was chosen via a public competition and funded through donations. Many of the donors are commemorated on plaques around the base. It's hardly finished yet, though the water is now flowing through the sculpture. It is inspired by sphagnum moss, which filters and purifies water and stores carbon, and is found in abundance on Ilkley Moor.
The base of the fountain has been planted with bulbs and should be looking good by the time of its official opening in late April by the celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh, who was born in Ilkley.
I found it hard to photograph since it tended to 'get lost' in the busy backgrounds that surround it. At night, I believe, it's illuminated so perhaps that would make a better photo.
Behind the fountain, a stream tumbling down off the moor is rather attractively contained in a little green valley, a pocket park that you can walk through or rest in as you climb up to the wilder moors.
Interesting fountain...and it fulfills its purpose, but actually I don't see anything beautiful in it (and will hold off criticism, because perhaps it's going to turn green with moss, or be really nice at night...hopeful!)
ReplyDeleteI can't, in all honesty, say that I'm that fond of it either.
DeleteI'm always fascinated by gravity fed water features. That one appears to have a decent amount of pressure. The design is yes, less than stellar at this point. Maybe age will help...or time of day...or more pressure....or....Barbara's use of "hopeful" seems apt.
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