‘Crafty’ cows created by local schools will go on tour across Trafford this summer.

The lifesize cut-outs of cows will tour the borough to highlight Trafford's amazing wildlife and natural habitats, such as around Sale Water Park. The colourful cattle art will also educate children on the links to the area’s history as former agricultural land.

The cows were the brainchild of environmental charity City of Trees, and brought to life by Zoe Taylor of art company Two By Two Hurrah! as well as local artist Gillian Parish.

Local Trafford schools that got involved include Manor High School, Moorside Junior and Templemoor Infants who created drawings and ideas which were then imagined onto the cows.

The colourful artwork details the biodiversity and heritage of the area as well as showing what activities could be done in and around Sale Water Park.

The four cows and four brightly painted calves took pride of place at City of Trees’ Go Wild event which took place last month at Sale Water Park, encouraging families to enjoy the great outdoors.

They are now touring schools in Trafford and there are plans for them to be displayed in Sale Library, as well as round the lake to act as a ‘trim trial’ to encourage people to get out and get active.

Rhys Wynne, City of Trees, comments “We came up with the concept of cows as Cow Lane is the old drover lane which runs through the park and it speaks to the former agricultural use of the area.” He adds; “We have done lots of traditional interpretation panels but we wanted to do something a bit different that would appeal to children and families”.

The cows form part of City of Trees’ Heritage Trees project which aims to connect people to the trees, woods and hedgerows which are the part of the fabric of our towns and cities.