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Happy Valley Alice Trail |
artist(s):
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Reece Ingram |
| location |
Llandudno [north Wales] |
| completed |
April 2002 |
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Llandudno, on the north Wales coast has had a long and distinguished history as a popular seaside resort dating as far back as the 1840’s and it was here that the Liddell family, including daughter Alice, came to stay on regular vacations from 1859 until the 1870’s. Indeed they liked the area so much that they had a house built - Penmorfa, now the Gogarth Abbey Hotel - on the West Shore. Henry George Liddell had been appointed Dean of Christ Church, Oxford in 1855 and the family were friends with the Rev. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known to us under his pen name Lewis Carroll who came to study mathematics at Christ Church. His adventurous stories, ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ (1865) and ‘Through the Looking-Glass’ (1871), which were written for young Alice has have become classics.
To commemorate the links between the area and the Liddell family an ‘Alice in Wonderland Illuminated Garden’ was created at Happy Valley, a woody park on the slopes of the Great Orme overlooking the wide sweep of Llandudno bay. Lewis Carroll’s most appealing characters were brought to life in metal work sculptural displays. These delighted visitors for many years but were no longer in existence when Conwy County Borough Council started its Llandudno Open Space Project, renewing and renovating many features in the town in the latter years of the 20th Century. Their aim at Happy Valley was to bring this much loved garden and park back to life and to introduce ways in which the people of Llandudno would also enjoy it. Quite a few young trees, which had naturally taken root through seed, were felled to restore the beautiful panoramic views over the east shore.
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To assist with the work the Council commissioned Cornwall based Sculptor Reece Ingram to create an Alice Trail through the pine woods along the edges of the grassy park area. The sculptures in oak denote different aspects and characters from the Alice in Wonderland stories and as Reece’s work often contains a humourous slant the theme here suited his work perfectly. He created eight sculptures in total:
Down The Rabbit Hole
A Mad Tea Party
King & Queen of Hearts
Rabbit’s Gloves and Fan
The 15th Door
The Cheshire Cat
Eat Me Cake
The Rabbit sends on a Little Bill
They appeal to all ages but children are especially fond of the Cheshire Cat which looks as if it is ready to pounce at any minute – its tail curled and eyes wide open. The Mad Tea Party table and stools also invite children to stop and sit and create their own version of the tea-time havoc. The majestic thrones of the King and Queen of Hearts are sited in a sheltered area at the edge of the park overlooking the bay giving a restful place to sit and contemplate the view.
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Happy Valley is within walking distance of the town or you can go by car, taking the Happy Valley Road that follows the base of the Great Orme by the Pier entrance on the Promenade. There is parking by the tea rooms at the park entrance or for the more ambitious walker follow the road up to the artificial ski centre and walk down the steep slopes through the wooded area and ornamental gardens. There are plenty of places to rest on the way and admire the beautiful panorama unfolding in front of you.
Reece Ingram has worked on other projects with Cywaith Cymru including the sculptures at the Dingle Woodland near Llangefni in Anglesey, Greenfield Valley Heritage Park near Holywell and a gateway for the Elan Valley Trail at Rhayader. He says of his art as a carver – ‘Carving is very much a physical and tactile activity. I am alive when I am working. The physical act is enough. One can explore the world with one’s hands.’ He also has work at the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens, London as well as Woodland Trust and National Trust sites throughout Britain.
Cywaith Cymru . Artworks Wales managed the project on behalf of Conwy County Borough Council. As the national organisation for public art in Wales Cywaith Cymru works closely with clients, advising on the selection of appropriate sites and managing the whole commission process from the selection of artists, preparing contracts and overseeing the programme of work.
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