Wentworth Woodhouse volunteers hope thousands of little wooden birds will fly out of their hands as they visit locations in Barnsley and Rotherham over the summer.
A total of 10,000 birds will form The Flock, a huge art installation on the lawns of the stately home in the autumn.
The moving display will mark Covid-19 lockdown and inspire people to engage with local arts, culture and heritage.
Each bird, a symbol of freedom and how communities pulled together, can be decorated with messages and artwork which can also reflect affection for the Rotherham stately home being regenerated by a Preservation Trust.
It is free to decorate a bird, but the Trust hopes people who can afford to will make a donation towards the Wentworth Woodhouse Fundraising Appeal.
Midlands-based artists Julie Edwards and Ron Thompson of Planet Art are behind the project, one of three large-scale installations created by artists appointed by National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England funded Wentworth & Elsecar Great Place ,and Wakefield-based arts organisation Beam. Others are planned for Wentworth Castle Gardens and Elsecar Heritage Centre in Barnsley.
“The Flock will become a piece of social history,” said Julie Edwards. “We hope people of all ages and walks of life will use the birds as messengers for their reflections on life during lockdown, and also add their thoughts on Wentworth Woodhouse.”
“We want everyone to join in and Fly with The Flock, “said Sarah McLeod, CEO of the Trust.
“It is going to be a stunning and emotional display marking the biggest event to impact on our lives since the Great Wars.
“We believe people will flock from far and wide to see it.”