The Sofia team was proud to attend the official unveiling of a new piece of public art on Tuesday 2 June 2026, to mark the culmination of a collaborative project with Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Ings Farm Primary School and Zetland Primary School.
The project, which began a year ago, invited pupils from Ings Farm School and Zetland Primary School to create and submit designs for a new piece of public art.
The iconic Redcar Turret was chosen to be restored, in partnership with RWE and help from Friends of Zetland Park, and transformed it into a unique piece of public art.
The turret incorporates the childrens’ designs and displays their artwork, while the structure itself has been carefully restored and enhanced with seating and decorative panels. A poem is woven through the design which speaks of themes of heavy industry and clean energy, and celebrates how the town has evolved over time.
The restoration was completed on 1 June, with the official unveiling taking place on 2 June, led by pupils from Ings Farm School. The turret is now installed at the main entrance to the prominent Zetland Park, situated on the sea front at Redcar.
The educational engagement for the project was delivered by RWE, as part of our education outreach programme. Sofia project members also worked closely with council staff to project-manage the fabrication, installation and unveiling of the turret. The project was funded by Impetus through an application submitted by Friends of Zetland Park, with the restoration works being completed by Steel River Fabrication. Additional lighting will also be installed, through funding provided by the Sofia project.
Sofia’s Project Director, Jonathan Grigg, said: “At RWE, we actively engage with young people of all ages to create inquisitiveness and interest in renewable energy, which will be so important for the development of the industry and the future of green energy. We hope that doing so in a way that showcases their own work, in a prominent location in their own community, will give them a great sense of pride in their accomplishment.”
RCBC Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Cllr Neil Bendelow, said: “It’s wonderful to see the Redcar Turret restored. It’s amazing to see local school pupils getting involved, and their creativity has helped transform the turret into something that truly reflects the spirit of the town.”
Ward representative, Cllr Alison Barnes, said: “It’s so important to have a sense of place and a sense of where you are from, and we hope that these children, as they grow up, will want to look after the area.”
Ings Farm Primary year 5 teacher, Mr Southworth, said: “the teaching of renewables is now woven into the science curriculum, and the pupils are hyper-aware of environmental issues. Now they also have something permanent to anchor them to the area.”
Each year, wind farm projects operated by RWE invest more than £5million into community funds. We provide funding which enhances community services, boosts tourism, creates training grants for young people and much more. One of our key priorities is to support sustainability and promote responsible stewardship of the environment, and the Zetland Park Turret is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when developers and local communities work together.
