An arable farmer has built a rainbow sculpture from haylage bales to raise awareness for a children’s hospice struggling financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
John Alker, who farms 400 acres in Billinge, Wigan, used 84 round bales to create the work of art in the hope of raising £2,000 for Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, a charity providing respite and end-of-life care for children and young people across the North West.
Mr Alker’s daughter, Gemma Crompton, told Farmers Guardian: “We were saddened to hear the cancellation of summer fundraising events for Derian House was having a huge impact on the self-funded hospice financially, and decided as a family to raise money by constructing the Derian Rainbow sculpture.
“Covid-19 has not only destroyed lives but put a stop to life for many and without this hospice and the incredible work of the carers, vulnerable poorly children and their families will not be able to access the care they vitally need.”
It took the family two days to paint and assemble the 84 round bales in an accessible location for local families to visit on their daily hourly exercise and keep to the two-metre social distancing rule.
However, Mrs Crompton said the rainbow sculpture is ‘only the beginning of the story’ and revealed the family’s plan to create old fashioned ‘key worker’ scarecrows during the coming weeks.
She added: “Not only is the attraction raising awareness and money for an important cause but lifting spirits within our local community and keeping us united during the lockdown.”
Donations to this cause can be made on the Just Giving page here