Flames light up the sky in spectacular finale to art project

FLAMES lit up the skies for miles across Sheffield in a spectacular display of the power of nature. Youngsters and adults were wowed by an ambitious arts project built around the themes of fire and flood. The lighting of a 30 metre-long Phoenix at Parkwood Springs was the climax of the stunning event, with the flames clearly visible over much of the south and north west of the city. The Beacons project started in the daytime and involved storytelling, drama, sculpture, arts, workshops and pyrotechnic displays involving children from Busk Meadows and Firs Hill primary schools. The event took inspiration from the city's floods. Singularly-named storyteller Shonaleigh, who came up with the themes, said: "We wanted the community to be involved in the idea of creating a story around a local focal point of landscape, using ideas from local schools. Their thoughts turned to the recent floods and this has brought into the narrative so that is strikes a chord with local people." Countryside and parks officers Art in the Park and the Sheffield Wildlife Trust came up with a plan to use the children's ideas and combine them with ancient storytelling and cultural legends. Events were held at Ruskin Park in Walkley and Parkwood Springs. And people were encouraged to communicate with each other, using light and fire, by setting off a series of flares and fireworks.

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