Is that a giraffe on Market Street? An elephant in Heywood? An antelope in Pennington Flash? THE HERDS are on the move…

Roaming through cities in West Africa and Europe, the animals are fleeing north to escape climate disaster. THE HERDS is a visual dramatisation of the climate crisis and a stark warning of what may come if animals are forced to flee their natural habitats.

For the opening event of MIF25, the displaced herd arrives in Manchester City Centre, set on interrupting an orchestral performance by Manchester Camerata.

Encounter THE HERDS as they scatter through the city, sweeping the music into their frenzy. Wander between Cathedral Gardens and Market Street, and you might just stumble upon them. Is that the sound of music or something wild approaching?

Seeking sanctuary in nature, THE HERDS then leaves the city centre for the residential streets of Heywood (4 July) before finding a glimmer of the wild in Pennington Flash Country Park (5 July).

Featuring 70 life-sized puppets operated by local participants and volunteers, THE HERDS is a public art project on a scale never attempted before – a testament to both the scale of the crisis and the collective effort needed to fight it.

THE HERDS is brought to life by the international team behind Little Amal created by The Walk Productions and led by Artistic Director Amir Nizar Zuabi, and brings together leading artists and arts and educational institutions across Africa and Europe.

Bringing searing questions about the climate crisis to our streets, THE HERDS is a call to action that cannot be ignored.