Well, wood you believe it? It's an art trail

Abbie Hulme, Louise Short and Brook Miller with Isos community involvement team leader Sara Parker-Clark among the colourful totem poles.

Bedlington-based charity Leading Link, with a little help from a few organisations, has been working with local children to design and build a new art trail for the site.

The youngsters’ efforts were officially unveiled by the civic head of Northumberland County Council, Coun Kath Nisbet, at a family fun day.

IsossÂ Mel Rees takes a closer look at the new Plessey Woods owl carving at the entrance to the art trail with visitors Sophie, left, and Grace Nicholas.

Eleven installations, ranging from a 6ft carved wooden owl to Hobbit houses built into tree trunks and giant willow sculptures, have been created for the mile-long trail by the young people, working alongside professional artists.

The whole project, a partnership between Leading Link and the council, has been funded by Sita Trust to enable the young people to put their ideas into action and the Foyer Federation has been running a project management course alongside it to give them the added skill and recognition via certificates.

Isos Housing funded an entertainment marquee and Children’s University art activities at the fun day.

The local housing provider was also on hand on the day to run a colouring competition and support a stone painting workshop run by Leading Link for youngsters to make their mark in the park by painting their designs on to cobblestones. These will be used to create a permanent cobbled street running through the park’s meadow.