TWO new murals were unveiled last month at a park near the Arsenal stadium– inspired by the nature inside it.

The stunning 12 metre wide murals adorn both sides of the entrance to the Gillespie Park Ecology Centre and feature butterflies, foxes and flowers.

The murals were painted by artist Nicki Blanchard with the help of over 40 volunteers from Friends of Gillespie Park.

“It was two weeks of painting, a full days’ work everyday,” said Jo Corrall, the Acting Nature Conservation Manager at the Ecology Centre (pictured in white in our main photo).

Animals, insects and plants that live in the Gillespie Park nature reserve have been replicated in the murals, in order to educate the public about the wildlife within the park.

Species included are swifts, robins, jays, foxes, slow worms, orchids, lupins, red admiral butterflies, damsels and dragonflies.

Ms Corrall described how the team “brightened up” the entrances to make the park more family-friendly.

“We wanted to make the aspect of the nature reserve more obvious,” she added. “Our murals were painted completely with eco-friendly paint so that the eco-system wouldn’t be damaged.”

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But the painting wasn’t all plain sailing, Ms Corrall explained, describing how the volunteers had to scrub away grime and urine from the steps at the Seven Sisters Road entrance before they could even start painting.

“I’m really hoping that the murals will deter people from littering and urinating on the steps and instead encourage them to enjoy the nature in our wonderful park. The space means a lot to me and I want the public to appreciate it too,” said Ms Corrall, who has worked at the Ecology Centre for two and a half years.