Painted stones made into a snake is bringing joy to Doncaster children

A Doncaster teacher started using stones to make a painted snake with her two sons and in just a few days it has grown to be over 300 stones long - adorned with hedgehogs, fairytale characters and animals.
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There is currently a snake winding down the Red Path in Bessacarr but no ordinary snake.

This one is made up of 312 individually painted stones left by children and adults who are taking part in growing the serpent.

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Teacher Jessica Milnthorpe and her two sons Elliott and Oliver started the snake but never imagined that the community would rally together and make the snake so popular.

Elliott (aged 3) and Oliver (aged 5) Milnthorp with the snake.Elliott (aged 3) and Oliver (aged 5) Milnthorp with the snake.
Elliott (aged 3) and Oliver (aged 5) Milnthorp with the snake.

Jessica said: “It was Oliver’s idea.

“He asked me if we could make a snake out of them and so we started it just in the garden but then I thought why not do it somewhere that others can add their own stones to it.”

They originally placed just four stones including the snakes head on the red path but when Jessica posted about it on social media they returned to find 232 stones on Wednesday, May 27, and 312 stones on Friday, May 29.

The stone snake winding down the red path.The stone snake winding down the red path.
The stone snake winding down the red path.
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“We have been going down every single day to see how much the snake has grown,” she continued.

“The boys love it.

“They run down to go and see how much it’s grown and to look at the designs on the painted stones.”

So far people have painted stones as hedgehogs, ladybirds, snowmen, foxes, and fairy tale characters.

Jessica is in talks with the council to see if the snake could be made into a more permanent fixture on the red path.

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She said: “I hope we can put the snake in cement so that it can stay on the path as a reminder of these times.

“Covid-19 will be remembered as a time of history https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/health/doncasters-coronavirus-death-toll-increases-again-187-more-fatalities-are-recorded-england-2854891and the snake is a reflection of community spirit.”

If you want to add a stone to the snake Jessica says the more the merrier - the snake is located at the bottom of Howden Close in Bessacarr.

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