BARNSLEY Council has unveiled a new sculpture which celebrates the heritage and culture of the Dearne - and it’ll be placed at the gateway to Goldthorpe.

Dan Jones’ artwork - which includes a pineapple-shaped birdhouse and bug ‘hotels’ - has been created following consultation with people of all generations living across the Dearne.

It will stand at five metres tall on the new roundabout at the western gateway of Goldthorpe.

Each panel represents one of the Dearne settlements of Goldthorpe, Bolton upon Dearne and Thurnscoe.

It’s part of the £23.1m investment into the Dearne, with other projects including the Horse and Groom Square and improvements at the Dearne Playhouse.

Dan said: “As someone who has lived in the Dearne Valley since I was a child, I have enjoyed meeting so many other people to learn what living here means to them and design a sculpture we can all be proud of.

“We’ve used all sorts of different artistic approaches, from using collages of photographs and drawings, to creating large scale temporary sculptures and model making.

“We’ve worked with junior youth club members, older residents at the Goldthorpe Development Group - and everyone in between.

“The sculpture is symbolic of the area’s growth and how its future is built on the foundations of its heritage, while the ring in the centre represents the communities coming together and looking to a bright future with greater opportunities for everyone.

“If you look closely at the sculpture, you’ll be able to see that all three communities are passionate about nature, while also remembering their industrial and agricultural heritage.”