West Ridings Care Home Celebrates “The Hatchling” with Their Own Dragon Creation
22 August 2024
Excitement is building in Wakefield as the city prepares for a truly spectacular event over the upcoming August bank holiday weekend. As part of the “Our Year Wakefield” initiative, a colossal dragon with a wingspan of over 20 metres will be hatched outside Wakefield Cathedral on Friday, August 23rd. Known as “The Hatchling,” this awe-inspiring creature will explore the city centre on Friday and Saturday, drawing crowds to witness its majestic presence. Special events will accompany the dragon’s exploration, creating a weekend full of wonder and excitement for residents and visitors alike.
On Sunday, August 25th, The Hatchling will take to the skies over Pugneys Country Park, marking the climax of a day filled with festivities. This event is a highlight of the year-long “Our Year Wakefield” project, aimed at bringing the community together through unique and inspiring activities.
At West Ridings Care Home, located in the heart of Wakefield, residents and staff have embraced the spirit of this event by creating their very own dragon, lovingly named Jasper. This creative endeavor was born out of a desire to contribute to the city-wide celebrations and to showcase the talent and creativity of the care home’s community.
Jasper, a dragon crafted entirely from recycled materials, is a testament to the resourcefulness and collaborative spirit of West Ridings. Residents and staff worked together over several weeks, using old newspapers, wrapping paper, cardboard, and even egg boxes to construct the dragon’s body, head, legs, and tail. Layers of papier-mâché made from watered-down PVA glue and brown packaging paper helped to shape the dragon, while the spikes on Jasper’s head were formed from brown paper. Cardboard wings and ears added the finishing touches.
Once the structure was complete, the dragon was painted white to serve as a base coat, before being brought to life with vibrant green and orange hues. Residents were encouraged to get creative, decorating Jasper with colourful spots using paint pens, which were then carefully applied to the body. The entire creation was varnished to preserve its striking appearance. The idea to name the dragon Jasper came from one of West Ridings’ residents, Jack, who remarked that the spikes on the dragon’s head resembled carrots. The name was warmly embraced by everyone involved, and Jasper the dragon was officially “born.”
The project has been a source of joy and pride for both residents and staff across all three units at West Ridings. The process of building Jasper provided a wonderful opportunity for everyone to come together, share ideas, and enjoy the creative process.
“Seeing Jasper develop and come alive over the course of several weeks was amazing,” said one of the care home staff members. “It was a project that really brought everyone together, and we had so much fun along the way.”
As Wakefield prepares for The Hatchling’s grand arrival, the residents and staff of West Ridings Care Home will have their own dragon to celebrate with, proudly displayed as a symbol of their community’s creativity and unity.
