Community helps children’s rock snake grow

The Dilton Marsh community has rallied round after the head of a community rock snake created by two young siblings was stolen. 

Hayley McCarthy challenged her children, 11-year-old Imogen and 7-year-old Jacob, to do something for the community as part of a summer holiday bucket list. 

 

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The siblings decided they wanted to create a snake, named Jebury, in Dilton Marsh Playing Fields using painted rocks that local people could add to and admire. However, soon after creating him, his head was stolen. 

“The children were very upset, they wanted to take the rest home so nothing else would go missing,” said Hayley. “After posting about the missing stones on local Facebook pages, the village really rallied round. We checked again before we went on holiday and he had grown to 39 stones from 25 in two days, which definitely cheered everyone up.” 

Hayley, Imogen and Jacob are encouraging local people to continue adding their own painted rocks to Jebury and see how long the snake can grow. He is located near the play park in the playing fields. 

Hayley said, “It’s so lovely to see what gets added and the creativity of them is great! We can’t wait to see the final results at the end of summer.” 

Jebury will remain in the playing fields until the end of the summer holidays, when Dilton Marsh Parish Council will move him to a permanent location in the community orchard on Penknap Road.