Safari puppet spectacle draws thousands to Heywood in climate change callout

Monday, 7 July 2025 17:08

By David Murphy

A dramatic parade of life-size puppet animals turned the streets of Heywood into a stage for climate awareness on Friday 4 July, with over 9,000 people turning out to witness the arrival of THE HERDS.

The extraordinary public art display, part of the Manchester International Festival and produced by The Walk Productions, saw cardboard and plywood giraffes, lions, antelope and monkeys descend on the town as part of their 20,000km journey across Africa and Europe.

The project symbolises animals migrating north to escape the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, serving as a powerful visual metaphor for the global environmental crisis. The journey began in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and will conclude in the Arctic Circle.

Heywood residents lined the streets from 7pm as THE HERDS arrived in a residential neighbourhood, accompanied by carnival musicians from Global Grooves. The animal puppets soon made their way to Queen’s Park lake in a scene organisers described as 'uplifting and moving'.

As the puppets settled at the lakeside, festival favourites Riot Jazz took to the outdoor theatre stage, entertaining the crowd with a brass-filled set of dance anthems and aggro-jazz.

A marquee hosted by Climate Co-Operators in Queen’s Park drew large numbers, offering visitors advice and support on how to take climate action. The event showcased local efforts to reduce carbon emissions and tackle environmental issues.

Councillor Tricia Ayrton, cabinet member for climate change and environment, hailed the event as a moment of pride for Heywood.

"To see this menagerie of life-size puppet animals and so many people coming out to support it here in Heywood was fantastic," she said. "The lake in our beautiful Queen’s Park provided a perfect backdrop. There were so many young people in the crowd, which is vital. Events like this help spark conversations and inspire real change."

She added that THE HERDS served as a “stunning representation of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss” and reflected the journey humanity must make towards sustainability.

Local cafes, bars and restaurants extended their hours and laid on live entertainment to welcome the influx of visitors, reporting a boost in trade throughout the evening.

THE HERDS now head to Scandinavia before continuing to the Arctic Circle as the Manchester International Festival continues across Greater Manchester. Among its highlights is the world premiere of Shilpa Gupta’s multilingual sound installation 'You Are The Place', now open for free at the Rise Inavate Centre on Smith Street.