A SCULPTURE designed to reflect the remote North Tyne landscape has been unveiled.

A group of seven students from Newcastle University took part in the creation of The Nick by working with members of the Redesdale community throughout 2018, generating ideas and developing the proposal and design.

The design is the latest sculpture in the series of creative projects that have been developed through the Kielder Development Trust and Newcastle University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape.

The students prefabricated much of the artwork in the university workshops before transporting and assembling its individual parts to create the finished piece at Blakehope Nick.

Situated at the highest point of Forest Drive, The Nick was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership, Forestry England and Newcastle University, with support from James Christopher Consulting and D.G. Walton and Son.

The sculpture is oriented along an axis connecting the villages of Byrness and Kielder, reflecting and highlighting the importance of Forest Drive in connecting the Rede and Tyne valleys and their communities.

Graham Farmer, head of architecture at Newcastle University, said: “The Nick presented a really interesting design challenge for our students and they had to develop a sensitive response appropriate to the remote and ecologically sensitive site. Their design approach has resulted in a structure that is both practical and engaging and it is a project we are all very proud of.”

Revitalising Redesdale landscape partnership representative, Maria Hardy, said: “The project has given students an opportunity to learn community consultation skills and is the first step in our aspiration to strengthen artistic connections between Kielder and Redesdale.”