Children create giant pebble snake to stay connected - and it just keeps growing

Linky the snake slithered into Grange Park on Monday, June 1 after East Boldon resident Emma Lawson decorated the first stones.

The idea – which came about after one was spotted elsewhere in the country – is to give the children something to do while the play park is still closed due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Now others have been painting their own stones and adding to the snake - seeing it grow to a few metres in length in just days.

But there are hopes it could snake its way right around the park.

Rebecca Higgins, secretary of the Friends of East Boldon Parks group said: “It’s something to keep the kids occupied and to entertain them while they are out on their walks, as we don’t know when they’ll be allowed in the play park again.”

She continued: “It was only about a foot when Emma started it off and people have kept adding to it since then.

“It’s had a great response on the Facebook page. We’re hoping it will grow really long as more people get involved.”

The group has had to cancel their annual picnic in the park event in June due to the pandemic and this year’s popular East Boldon Scarecrow Festival - scheduled for September - is also in doubt.

“We’re unsure whether the festival will be able to go ahead, said Rebecca.

“Hopefully this is something to cheer up the community a bit as well.”

However, the snake’s original stone head went missing earlier this week and there’s still no sign of it anywhere.

Rebecca added: “He’s got a new head now, but if anyone finds it in the park, or know where it has disappeared off too, we would ask them to please return it.”

Residents are reminded not to take any stones away and keep two metres apart from anyone else adding their stone – as per Government guidelines.

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