On Thursday 7th May 2009, Leisure Services unveiled a new wildlife play sculpture trail with the help of pupils from Lilliput First School who named each of them and also planted woodland flowers in the area, including bluebells and daffodils.

The life-like robust structures are carved in wood with smooth surfaces, and include a giant green tiger beetle and a 16 foot long sand lizard.

Bottlenose dolphins may occasionally be seen from our coast, and overlooking Branksome Chine there are a pair of life-size ones.

Wood ants are present in the woodland, and now they are represented along the trail. Wood ants create impressive homes and local construction company, Quantum Homes, made a generous contribution to this sculpture.

We have also installed information panels about the wildlife featured along the trail.

At an event at Branksome Dene Community Room, with the help of local artists Maria Burns and Helen Ward, pupils from St. Edward’s and Parkstone Schools painted individual quarry tiles featuring heathland and woodland scenes based on original designs by Maria.

School pupils helped assemble the tiles at Pinecliff’s sunken garden.

The notice board behind the shelter displays pictures and poems by school groups visiting the area.