Wildlife-inspired makeover for ‘neglected’ shelter thanks to local artist

A neglected storage shed at Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve in Warminster is set to be transformed into a wildlife-themed mural, thanks to the vision of a local dog walker and the talent of a local artist.

For years, the shipping container in the nature reserve’s car park has long been deemed an eye-sore for walkers who pass by.

But now, Clare Hancock, who often walks her dogs Wren and Mabel in the area, has decided to take matters into her own hands.

She said, “For quite a few years now, I’ve wanted to find a way to get something a bit nicer here. At the moment, it’s quite sad, neglected, and pretty grotty. But it has so much potential. It’s such a useful space and in a great location with so much wildlife nearby.

“After speaking with some members of Sustainable Warminster, I decided to get something started. I reached out to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, who own the shed, and the Smallbrook Volunteers, who use it to store tools, and both were absolutely fine with a project here.”

Clare, a hypnotherapist in Warminster, contacted local artist Tanya Hinton to see if she could work some magic on the shelter. Together with her partner, Nick Andrew, who runs the Wylye Valley Art Trail, the pair got to work from their studio in Crockerton.

Their final design features animals such as toads, otters, dragonflies, and more.

Tanya said, “When Clare contacted me, it felt quite amazing as I’d also had this shed in my sights. I’d wanted to paint it for years but had never been able to secure funding to make something happen. It will take about a month to do, and I can’t afford to take that time entirely away from my regular work, as I still have rent and bills to pay.

“I’m going to work with a similar green colour to what is here now, add reeds up the building, and paint a clear blue reflective surface to represent the river. Once the landscape is worked out, I can then start to add the creatures, which will be exciting.”

Previously branded ‘Warminster’s own Banksy’, Tanya’s identity is now well known after years of sprucing up boarded-up shops—such as Town Pets—with paintings of wild animals.

Most recently, when The Coffee Garden on Silver Street was vandalised over winter, Tanya painted a colourful scene of a rhino taking tea with a wolf at a table on a boarded-up window.

Tanya added, “I like to turn something that might seem a little bit tatty into something a bit different. With all my paintings in town, the whole point of them is simply to make people smile.”

Clare and Tanya are currently fundraising to make the Smallbrook Nature Reserve shelter project a reality. A ‘wonderful donation’ has been secured from the Fudge Trust and the Warminster Lions Club. Clare and Tanya have launched a Crowdfunder which can be found by searching Smallbrook Car Park Cabin Mural on www.crowdfunder.co.uk

Once funding is secured, Clare’s husband Tim, a retired painter and decorator, will clear loose debris off the building and prepare the space for Tanya with masonry paint. Anti-graffiti paint will be used on the design, and it is hoped CCTV could one day be installed at the car park to prevent any potential vandalism.

Clare said, “It’s going to be a fantastic educational piece for the many visitors who come to the reserve. We want to depict the amazing wildlife we have all around Smallbrook Nature Reserve and the stunning River Wylye, a rare chalk stream.

“We are so excited. I was absolutely delighted when Tanya said she would get involved, as it’s hard to think of anyone better to do it. Her art is amazing.

“The project will marry well with a new amphibian information board in the car park, as well as the Toad Patrol who meet here. I hope it will all slot together really nicely.”

It is hoped work on the shelter can begin in April or May this year.

To donate to Tanya’s fundraiser, search Smallbrook Car Park Cabin Mural on www.crowdfunder.co.uk or go to https://buff.ly/PwipMLO

Pictured: Tim Hancock, Clare Hancock, Tanya Hinton and Nick Andrew have a wildlife-themed design in mind for the old shelter by the Smallbrook Nature Reserve