“Dream”

I have been passing this sculpture on my way to and from the hospital each day, although from the motorway only the top of the head can be seen. So today I left home earlier and had a walk around.

The site was formerly that of Sutton Manor Colliery, which closed in 1991. Subsequently 50,000 trees were planted, so they’ve had 30 years to mature - it’s now a very well wooded area, with lots of good footpaths.

The Dream sculpture is a later addition, completed in 2009. Catalan sculptor Jaume Plensa worked with the local community, including ex miners, to come up with something appropriate for the location. Local people did not want to look backwards, so whilst there are references to the mining industry (the base is modelled on a miners tally), they’re not obvious. They wanted to look forwards, dreaming the future. The head is modelled on that of a nine year old girl, and the whole stands twenty metres tall.

There were plenty of people enjoying the fine weather today. I suspect local people have taken the site and the sculptures to their hearts.