Out and about on our walk today we spotted a new seat set into a hillside with commanding views of the River Caldew and beyond.
The new flood information sculpture features six curved metal petals fanning out from a central round metal post.
It offers any jogger, cyclist or dog walker on the Carlisle to Dalston path a moment to sit and take in their surroundings.
Flood henge
Installed by Carlisle City Council and Eden Rivers Trust the Cummersdale Holmes flood information henge tells the story of the 2005 floods and others that have affected the area.
Using quotes from local newspapers, the sculpture recounts major flooding events on the River Eden over the past 200 years: 1822, 1852, 1856, 1925, 1965 and 2005.
It also records the river level at the Eden Bridge river crossing.
The shape of the seats symbolise the theme of water.
The whole structure measures 4.2m in diameter. It can be found near to the boundary fence of the Pirelli tyre factory.
Constructed of galvanised steel with the seats made from stainless steel, the henge is within easy reach of any user of the Dalston to Carlisle cycle path.
We are not quite sure as to why the project refer to the artwork or sculpture as a henge. Definitions we can find indicate that a henge is an earthwork or monument.
Carlisle floods
This henge is part of a project, by Eden Rivers Trust, to explain that flooding is part of nature and has occurred for hundreds if not thousands of years.
During 2004 they carried out a consultation and found that more information was required to explain the local environment and history.
Funding for the sculpture has come from a Heritage Lottery project called Discover Eden, with support from the Environment Agency and Carlisle City Council.
Cummersdale Holmes flood seat
