Art Competition at Hamworthy Park
Five talented young artists have seen their colourful, nature-inspired bench designs brought to life in Hamworthy Play Park, thanks to a BCP Council-led community art project funded by the UK Government.
These new benches, featuring ospreys, snails, crabs, seagulls and bright flowers, are part of a wider initiative to install public artworks across Hamworthy that reflect the area’s natural beauty and strong community spirit. They’re free for everyone to enjoy and will form a lasting part of the park’s landscape.
Video by BCP Council
A Creative Competition with Over 700 Entries
More than 700 pupils from Twin Sails Infant School and Hamworthy Park Junior School submitted their ideas for the art competition, with the brief to design a bench inspired by what Hamworthy means to them. Five winning entries were chosen to be transformed into four real benches by local artists — each one bursting with imagination and love for the local environment.
Theo: “This bench is made out of snails and the sunshine.”
Casey-Jayne: “Ospreys are my favourite wild animal in Hamworthy and Poole Community.”
Antosh: “I was inspired by the seagulls in the park who normally roam the skies looking for fish to eat!”
Raphael: “I got inspired by the crabs I see in Hamworthy.”
Lauren: “I want people to smile when they see my bench. It is inspired by the flowers in the park.”
Photo Credit: Roy Sharp
More Art Coming to Hamworthy
The new benches are just the beginning. BCP Council is working with artists, schools and community groups on a series of outdoor artworks to be installed across Hamworthy by the end of 2025. These include:
- Art in the Wild – Four sculptures at Ham Common celebrating local wildlife such as the European Nightjar, Dartford Warbler, White-tailed Eagle and Sand Lizard.
- Turlin Moor Mural – Created in collaboration with Poole Communities Trust’s youth group, local artist TechMoon and bird charity BARI, inspired by workshops on local nature.
- Turlin Moor Viewing Platform – Already open, this birdwatching platform includes poetry, stories and drawings from local children, displayed on new artistic waymarkers.
Except for the viewing platform, all of these artworks are fully funded by the UK Government.
Photo Credit: Roy Sharp
Community Voices
Cllr Andy Hadley, Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, said:
“One of the many benefits of installing artwork in parks is that the experience is free for the whole community. Outdoor art adds beauty and character to our public spaces. I must add my congratulations to these young designers – their benches are a fantastic addition to Hamworthy Play Park.”
Susannah Hill, Executive Headteacher of the Federation of Hamworthy Primary Schools, said:
“Seeing the children’s winning entries brought to life as real benches in our local park was such a joyful moment. Their creativity has been celebrated in a meaningful way, and we’re so proud of their work.”
Helen Craig, Friends of Hamworthy Park, added:
“Hamworthy has a rich history and a strong sense of community. It’s so exciting that our children have turned that shared heritage into something artistic and lasting. These benches are more than just somewhere to sit — they tell our story in a warm, creative way.”
Meet the Bench Artists
- Lauren Gardner (AUB student) – Bees and flowers
- Roger Coolbear of Rustic Mania – Snail and osprey benches
- Greenspace Designs Ltd – Seagull with armbands
- Rob Beckinsale – Crab bench
The Art in the Wild sculpture series will feature work by Brendon Murless, Roger Coolbear, Leslie Lees, and Dorset Forge & Fabrication, with installation planned for summer 2025.
These benches — imagined by children, shaped by artists, and funded through a community-driven public art programme — are a joyful and permanent reminder that Hamworthy’s beauty lies in both its nature and its people.
