Ten winters ago my first (and last) major public sculpture commission was installed at WWT Welney. I’d spent days out in the marshes photographing and sketching, and months working with people from local communities to gather together ideas of what they’d like to see, and what they felt belonged there, before creating the sculpture, Above The Earth. Beneath The Sky.
Featuring many native plants from the area, and made from corten steel, it sways gently in the wind. It might look simplistic, but it was a big undertaking. I couldn’t have done it without so many people, including my cousin Alex, who wrote the code for the plasma-cutter, enabling fine precision and accurate representation of my many drawings. Three years later Alex died, and Above The Earth. Beneath The Sky became more than just a sculpture, it became a memorial.
In the decade since the creation of the sculpture, Karen has continued her dedication to environmental and community-based projects, recently being awarded an MBE for her services to considerate consumption and the environment, and joining David Attenborough, Feargal Sharkey and the King, on the 2025 Future Icons Power People list, recognised for her pioneering work.
As WWT Welney celebrates this milestone, the sculpture remains a testament to the harmony between art, community, and nature. Visitors are encouraged to reflect on the evolving story of this landscape and the people who help protect it.
Karen Harvey’s sculpture for WWT Welney, Above the Earth. Beneath the Sky, is available to visit for free, openly accessible, and situated between the carpark and main entrance of the visitors centre.
Visit WWT Welney at Hundred Foot Bank, Littleport, CB6 1UG.