A new public art sculpture unveiled at one of Greater Manchester's most popular parks has sparked heated debate among residents who are questioning how much taxpayer money was spent on the controversial installation. The sculpture, titled "Snail on Me," was officially opened at Haigh Woodland Park's walled gardens during a family fun day on Saturday, September 13, but has since drawn mixed reactions from the local community.

Created by international artist Anne Duk Hee Jordan, the sculpture is designed to explore themes of biodiversity and climate change and is expected to remain at the park for at least five years. However, public response on social media has been largely critical, with many residents expressing disappointment with both the artwork's appearance and the decision to hire a non-local artist for the project.

Comments on Wigan Council's Facebook page reveal the extent of public dissatisfaction with the new installation. One resident wrote, "Seriously, Wigan have spent money on that? And it isn't even a local artist," while another compared the sculpture unfavorably to everyday objects, saying it looks "more like a slug" or "a dinghy." Some residents made particularly harsh criticisms, with one stating, "My grandson made a mess in his nappy yesterday that looked better than this... people will call anything art these days. We mustn't have artists in the UK."

The most frequent concern raised by residents centers on the financial cost of the project. Multiple commenters demanded transparency about public spending, with remarks such as "hope you have not wasted tax payers money on this" and "rubbish, how much did we pay for that." The council has not disclosed the total project cost or specified exactly how much municipal funds were allocated to the sculpture.

Funding for "Snail on Me" came from multiple sources, including Arts Council England, Art Fund, Vallum Associates, and Wigan Council. The council stated that its financial contribution was drawn from broader funding previously awarded to UP Projects for the wider "Bodies of Water" project. The steel fabrication and installation were completed by Fish Fabrications, while Horticon handled the new pond construction and landscaping work around the sculpture.

Despite the criticism, some residents have defended the artwork and the concept of public art investment. One supporter pushed back against the negative comments, writing, "Do some people ever have anything good or positive to say about anything? Moan, moan, moan its public art like most towns have to make them better. Perhaps you all need a bit more culture."

Peter Hughes, operations director at Haigh Hall, expressed pride in hosting the international artist's work and emphasized the educational value of the project. "Snail on Me is completely different to anything else we have at Haigh and were really proud to host such an original work by an acclaimed international artist within our walled gardens," Hughes said. He acknowledged that while the official opening received positive feedback, art is subjective and not everyone will appreciate the same works.

Hughes highlighted the broader impact of the project beyond just the sculpture itself. "The project has also created some exciting opportunities for talented local artists and performers to be showcased as part of our events programme, and for educational resources and art workshops to be developed for local schools – helping to encourage a love of art in future generations," he explained.

Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities at Wigan Council, praised the opening day's success despite challenging weather conditions. "It was brilliant to see so many local people across the park on Saturday enjoying the workshops, installation from local artists and of course, the new sculpture, Snail on Me," Ready said. He noted that this represents the second public art installation at Haigh this year and is part of a broader transformation across the estate.

The sculpture unveiling was accompanied by extensive community programming designed to engage local residents with the arts. Throughout the day, local artist Anna FC Smith hosted workshops alongside the program's Local Community Ambassadors. Additional activities included performances by the Kubatana dance group Everything Human Rights, who performed a rain dance, pond-dipping sessions hosted by Groundworks, and family clay-making workshops led by artist Zephie Begolo using clay sourced from Haigh's own grounds.

The event also showcased two additional new art commissions within the park grounds – one created by local artist Dustin Lyon and another by Alison Cooper, who works under the name Magpahi. These installations demonstrate the council's commitment to supporting both international and local artistic talent as part of the broader cultural development initiative.

"Snail on Me" is situated in the lower walled gardens of Haigh Woodland Park and is accessible to visitors seven days a week from 10am to 5pm. The installation is part of a much larger, multi-million pound restoration program currently underway at Haigh Hall and the surrounding woodland park. This comprehensive renovation includes significant investment in the Hall itself, the Plantation Gates, the Bothy Yard and cottages, the Kitchen Garden, and the ornamental pond, representing one of the most ambitious heritage restoration projects in the region.