Friends of Rising Sun Country Park

Imago is the official name of the galvanised steel gate at the Killingworth Waggonway entrance to Rising Sun Country Park, though it is affectionately known by many locals as “The Butterfly Gate.” Designed by artist William Pym, it was unveiled on 17 December 1996.

Although commonly thought to depict a butterfly, the artwork actually features a peppered moth. This species was chosen as a symbol of transformation, reflecting the dramatic changes in the surrounding landscape — from industrial colliery workings to the thriving green space enjoyed today.

Along the left side of the gate is an inscription from Kathleen Raine’s 1943 poem The Healing Spring:

“Patiently the earth’s wounds close. The womb heals of its sons. As bark over a torn branch grows.”

The arched cage above the entrance incorporates a series of words that play with identity and metamorphosis: “Me, Mine, Magic, Mirage, Imago, I’m, I am, I age, Image, Imago.”

Together, these elements create a powerful reflection on renewal, memory and the evolving relationship between people and place.