Community artwork on the theme of woodland fairies, willow weaved structures, pebble floor designs and bird boxes was completed in Runcorn this week, as part of major improvements to the Cotton Lane area in Halton Lodge, carried out by housing association, Riverside.

Artist, Bernadette Hughes from Rainford Design Studio, has been working with residents, children from local primary schools and older people from Croftwood care home to create the structures in the woods behind the Croft pub.

The artwork is the final step in environmental improvements to Cotton Lane and the surrounding woodland area, since Riverside took ownership of properties there in 2015.

Other improvements included cutting back overgrown areas of the woods, removing fly tipping, repairing pathways, installing new fencing and providing more litter bins.

Laura Woodward is community engagement officer for Riverside in Halton. She said: “Our tenants told us the areas that are of most concern to them and we’ve set about a programme of improvement works as a result. The artwork is the final piece of the jigsaw to make this community a better place to live. When people get involved in improving their own neighbourhoods they are far more likely to have pride in them and keep them tidy and litter free.”

Riverside contributed £5,000 towards the project.