A huge display is set to open on Saturday 20th April at Rheged outlining an ambitious new proposal to create a large-scale piece of land art in the Lune Gorge depicting the native semi-feral Fell pony.

The project called EPONA, after the Celtic and Roman goddess, is a 21st century and Cumbria-styled version of the famous chalk white horses seen elsewhere in the UK. The long-term intention of the project would see an international call-out to artists to design the image which could then be recreated in a material more in keeping with the natural area.

To encourage dialogue around the heritage of the Fell pony breed and the fascinating Tebay Gorge area, Eden Arts coordinated a series of workshops in local schools funded by The Westmorland Dales Love you Landscape Grant alongside additional funding from Westmorland and Furness Council reaching around 350 children ranging from age 3-13yrs. Led by artist Alex Jakob-Whitworth, heritage expert Chloe Brownlee-Chapman and story-teller Anja Phoenix, the workshops explored what makes the area unique as well as looking at the relationships of the ponies to the human settlers. The children were also treated to a visit from Marnie the Fell pony brought to each school by Libby Robinson from the Fell Pony Heritage Trust.

The Fell pony is one of 15 native pony breeds in the British Isles with an ever-dwindling number of Fell pony mares running out all year in their natural habitat, the Cumbrian fells, the Fell pony is on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust’s ‘endangered’ list. The threat to the native breed is not universally understood and part of the aim is to make the wider public aware of the Fell pony and its cultural and heritage value to Cumbria. The site identified in the Lune Gorge is close to a Roman cavalry fort, highlighting how horses have been a big part of the local landscape for centuries.

The project is being brought about by a combination of arts, Fell pony and land expertise in the form of Adrian Lochhead director of Eden Arts, Tom Lloyd of Fell Pony Adventures with the Epona project supported by the Lonsdale estate. It is hoped that the Wild Pony of the North will stand as a tribute and welcome to the region, an iconic work of land art celebrating the ponies, the land and the place. The Fell pony will be a huge symbol of the freedom of the fells and the importance of our natural environment.

Adrian says
“We have been discussing this idea for some years now, it is exciting to realise that it could be something that we can bring to reality. This first phase of the project, engaging schools and bringing this impressive display to Rheged, showcases the concept and brings to light the potential for this piece of land art to not only highlight issues around Fell ponies but bring to light the rich heritage of the area”.

Tom says
“Having worked with Fell ponies my whole life I have seen firsthand how unique and vital this breed is to our area. Creating a large-scale piece of land art in the form of a pony, will help to raise awareness of Cumbria’s native Fell pony and the plight of the last semi-feral herds in the north of England. Epona will be a symbol of hope and freedom at the gateway to the English lakes. Our hope for the future of the semi-feral herds and the freedom of the wild ponies of the north of England”.

The display at Rheged will be up from Saturday 20th April 2024 for 3 months in the walkways of the centre. There will be a special talk as part of the Forty Farms Fair at 12.00pm on 20th April entitled Epona- Introducing a New Piece of Land Art in the Lune Gorge introducing the project with free entry alongside a program of speakers and farmers market with over 35 stands.