Families are being encouraged to beetle along to Silverdale Glen and take part in a bug-themed treasure hunt.

The Silverdale Beetle Hunt has been organised by the Creative Network, a voluntarily run collective of artists which is working to create a permanent art trail along the Herring Way beside the Silverburn river from Castletown to Silverdale Glen, taking in Ballasalla railway station.

Network member Steve Chell responded to a call for artists as part of that, and the result is a summer hunt for a colourful colony of beetles let loose between Monk’s Bridge and Silverdale Cafe.

Creative Network co-ordinating member Carola Rush told Island Life: ‘Steve suggested that he could produce a number of his beetles and create a trail of them in Silverdale Glen.

‘The network organisers jumped at this idea and developed it to become the Silverdale Beetle Hunt for children this summer.

‘It has been a relatively simple part of our art trail project and great fun to do.’

There are 52 beetles to find and there’s a bug searching sheet available to print off from the Silverdale Beetle Hunt Facebook page so you can tick off your finds.

The beetles were placed in the glen on August 5 and the Facebook page set up by Ariane Monds was launched that evening.

‘After five days, the page reached around 14,500 people thanks to so many sharing it and enthusiastically liking the idea,’ Carola said.

Steve completed an advanced diploma in art and design at University College Isle of Man a few years ago and as a part of his course he developed an interest in exploring the relationship between art and science, and more specifically entomology and our relationship with insects and how this might be expressed through art.

He is holding a workshop on Saturday, August 27, at Ballasalla village hall for children aged seven to 12 to make their own fantastical insects from recycled materials like Steve’s and learn more about entomology and insect habitats in the environment.

For details on how to book, see the Silverdale Beetle Hunt Facebook page.

The workshop will be free thanks to support from the Isle of Man Arts Council.

The network has received a grant from the Manx Lottery Trust through the National Lottery Community Fund for the permanent art trail.