A bee monument created from thousands of firearms, knives and weapons from Greater Manchester, is to become a catalyst for an area specific anti-violence programme.
This week it visited its first venue a school in Denton
The monument made in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Police by the British IronWorks Centre in Shropshire, is an anti-violence monument to highlight the city’s stance against all forms of violence.
It has been created using thousands of weapons – including knives and guns – which have all been collected from the streets of Manchester. All weapons were collected as part of the GMP’s ‘Forever Amnesty’.
The knife and gun banks used for the amnesty were designed and created at the Centre and have been utilised as a continual programme to encourage and support the public to surrender their dangerous weapons in order to clear the streets of violent and aggressive behaviour.
Clive Knowles, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, said they hoped the sculpture could replicate the impact of the Knife Angel, which was created from knives collected by police forces, as a monument against violence.
Mr Knowles said they were delighted at the final piece, and hoped it would help to spread the anti-violence message.
He said: “It speaks for itself. It is absolutely stunning and it relates to Manchester. I am thrilled with it.”
He added: “I am also enormously proud of the fact we have now found a solution for all of the towns that find it difficult to host the angel.”
The Knife Angel is currently being hosted by Aberystwyth, one of Wales largest student towns and then at the end of this month it will move to the Wirral for the complete month of July.
