Pontefract community come together to decorate rocks and adding them to a trail to create a snake

Two snakes have formed, one outside Orchard Head School and the other around a tree in Friarwood Valley Gardens

The snake, opposite Orchard Head School, began on May 15 when Sophie Stogden came across the idea in a Facebook group, so she and her 5 year old daughter, Alba, went ahead with creating the trail straight away.

Sophie said: “When I asked Alba if she wanted to make a snake like the one I saw, she was so excited and wanted to begin making it straight away.

“That night we found a rock and made the snake's head and put it on the path opposite Orchard Head School."

Five year old Alba with the Orchard Head snake

After just a week, more than 100 people had added a rock to it.

And now, as of this morning, 259 rocks have been placed there in a row.

Sophie said: “Alba was really suffering with lockdown, when she had to leave school due to the pandemic her routine was taken away from her and it hit her really hard.

“But after making the snake with her, she can't wait to visit it every day and see how many people have added their rocks to it.

(Left) The Valley Gardens snake on day one, (right) The Valley Gardens snake today

“We’ve had people of all ages adding rocks to it and coming to see how it’s coming along daily, someone walked from Castleford to come and see the snake.

“We’re speaking with the council highways department to try and get the snake cemented there permanently, to serve as a reminder that something positive came out of such a weird time.”

A snake made up of more than 250 rocks has also appeared around a tree in Pontefract Valley Gardens, courtesy of community run organisation, Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens.

Rachel Riley, group member said: “A lot of people messaged our Facebook page asking us about doing one of the snakes in the Valley Gardens.

“We got to work with making the snake's head, making posters with instructions, we then shared it on Facebook asking people to contribute a rock.

“I knew it would be popular but the snake is now made of well over 250 rocks, it’s been a needed community activity for everyone to get involved in.

“The idea is that you leave your rock and don't touch anyone else's so the activity remains safe for everyone.

“Hopefully we will find a permanent home for the snake, as a tribute to how the community came together in a pandemic, the snake has made our community a lot nicer and brighter during these times.”