Giant replica of Planet Earth and 18-metre whale coming to Wakefield city centre for Festival of the Earth

A giant replica of Planet Earth and an 18-metre whale are coming to Wakefield as part of a three month-long festival to promote climate change action.
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Wakefield Council has announced plans for a 'Festival of the Earth', which will run from July 12 to October 30 this year.

The festival will involve city centre exhibitions, a sound and light installation in Wakefield's former market hall and workshops in local libraries.

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But perhaps most intriguing of all will be the appearance of a seven metre replica of planet Earth by the artist Luke Jerram, which will be in Wakefield Cathedral in late August.

Both exhibitions will come to Wakefield in August. Pictures courtesy of Wakefield CouncilBoth exhibitions will come to Wakefield in August. Pictures courtesy of Wakefield Council
Both exhibitions will come to Wakefield in August. Pictures courtesy of Wakefield Council

The work, known as Gaia, features detailed NASA imagery and will be accompanied by a surround-sound musical composition by the award-winning composer Dan Jones.

Meanwhile an 18 metre inflatable whale is set to appear on Wakefield's Cathedral precinct between August 20 and 22. Audiences will be invited to gather in front of the whale and watch a show called 'Plastic Ocean'.

The council says the entire festival, which will run from July 12 to October 30, will help promote the green cause and educate people on how to make positive environmental changes to their daily lives.

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The local authority's portfolio holder for climate change, Coun Jack Hemingway, said: "We have made a commitment to become a carbon neutral organisation by 2030 but we also want to support our residents and local businesses to do the same.

A work by the artist Luke Jarram, Gaia features detailed NASA imagery. Picture courtesy of Wakefield Council.A work by the artist Luke Jarram, Gaia features detailed NASA imagery. Picture courtesy of Wakefield Council.
A work by the artist Luke Jarram, Gaia features detailed NASA imagery. Picture courtesy of Wakefield Council.

"We need to act now and act together. As a district we need to commit to recycling more, using less plastic, and much more.

"The council will support other organisations and residents in reaching this goal as close to this time frame as possible.

"This is an opportunity for young people across the district to take action to change how they live, support the environment and protect Wakefield for future generations."

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Among the festival's other highlights will be an "immersive" sound and light installation in Wakefield's old market hall building, which the event's website says will help demonstrate the effects of climate change on the Earth.

A light-and-sound installation in the old Market Hall will help demonstrate the effects of man-made climate change.A light-and-sound installation in the old Market Hall will help demonstrate the effects of man-made climate change.
A light-and-sound installation in the old Market Hall will help demonstrate the effects of man-made climate change.

That will take place between August 21 and September 3.

There will also be activities, performances and further exhibitions taking place on the Cathedral precinct between August 20 and 22.

Local Democracy Reporting Service