Herd hypnotises crowds as MIF comes to town

A HERD of life-sized safari animals on an epic journey arrived in Heywood on Friday, drawing crowds of over 9,000 people to the town.

- 

THE HERDS were on a very public journey that has been making its way across Africa and Europe before heading to Greater Manchester to dramatise the climate crisis, highlighting animals travelling north to flee the climate disaster, produced by The Walk Productions as part of Manchester International Festival (MIF).

THE HERDS featured giraffes, antelope, lions and monkeys made from upscaled or recyclable cardboard and plywood.

A dramatic way to put the focus on climate change, the animals began their 20,000km journey in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo back in April. With a crowd of thousands awaiting their arrival in a residential area, they made their appearance just after 7pm, along with musicians from carnival arts company Global Grooves. On a mission to find a way back to nature, in moving and uplifting scenes, they found their way to the lake at nearby Queen's Park.