The Beacon's Badger and Bat Joins the Amersham in Bloom Trail
Over the past few months, Year 5 pupils at The Beacon have been hard at work in their Art lessons, creating an impressive three-dimensional mosaic of a badger that celebrates the area’s rich wildlife whilst promoting the importance of sustainability and conservation.
The finished artwork was commissioned as part of the Amersham in Bloom Art Trail, a fantastic project led by Amersham Town Council, has now been installed in the Memorial Gardens in Old Amersham, where it has become a feature for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Amersham Memorial Gardens were opened in 1949 to commemorate the fallen heroes. In more recent years, Old Amersham’s award-winning gardens are a beautiful community hub and the flagship centrepiece of Amersham in Bloom. The trail brings art into the landscape, encouraging families to explore the town whilst celebrating the beauty of the natural environment and the wildlife that calls the Chilterns National Landscape home.
The Beacon badger project began with a framework created by local artist Colin Pells, who constructed the base using a range of recycled materials, including chicken wire and fabric. Under the guidance of Miss Michelle Jackson, Head of Art at The Beacon, pupils transformed the framework into a vibrant mosaic badger. They worked collaboratively using different shades of glossy mosaic tiles that add a wonderful shimmer to the sculpture. The pupils developed a range of artistic techniques whilst exploring the importance of sustainability, understanding how recycled materials can be transformed into a striking piece of public art.
The Beacon badger is the second wildlife project for Amersham in Bloom, working with Colin Pells. In 2025, Year 7 pupils collaboratively created a striking bat sculpture crafted from recycled cans, which was proudly installed in St Michael’s & All Angels C of E Church in Amersham High Street. The bat was designed to shine a spotlight on the importance of protecting native bats and other native wildlife. This sculpture has now also been installed as part of the 2026 Art Trail, in the historic grade II listed building Amersham Market Hall – just a short walk away from the badger in the heart of Old Amersham High Street.
By celebrating local wildlife and supporting the Amersham in Bloom initiative, both sculptures help raise awareness of environmental issues, inspiring appreciation for biodiversity and encouraging more sustainable ways of thinking. Now proudly displayed in popular Old Amersham historic landmarks, the badger and bat join the growing collection of artworks that make up the Amersham in Bloom art trail, all created by local artists or institutions.
To explore Amersham in Bloom Art Trail, a map can be downloaded here.
