With the Shepton Mallet lantern parade almost upon us, it's been revealed that a Pangolin lantern is being created to lead the parade.

Created by artist Mandy McKenna, whose previous amazing work – the Ram –was a gamechanger for Shepton Mallet, this new piece will be equally showstopping.

Mandy has decided to make a lantern in the form of a pangolin – one of the most critically endangered species in the world. They are solitary animals with a long curling tail and completely covered in scales. Mainly active at night, they roll up into a ball when disturbed, like hedgehogs. Native to Asia and parts of Africa they are hunted for their scales, which are prized in traditional Asian medicine.

Mandy adores them. "They can walk on four legs, but most of the time they walk on two legs, with their front legs clasped like hands in front of them. Sadly they are one of the most trafficked mammals in the world."

The finished lantern will be over three metres from head to tail, and nearly three metres tall. Mandy is halfway through the willow construction. Lights will be installed inside the skeleton and then the whole thing will be covered in special paper through which the lights will shine.

The mechanics of moving the work are considerable. "I have to think ahead about how to get it out of the house" says Mandy. "My smallest door size is 65 centimetres so nothing can be bigger than that. I make the lantern in three pieces so I can get it out! I also have to think about the wind, and possibly the rain, so there is a lot of thought goes into it."

Musgrove Willows has kindly sponsored the Pangolin and provided all the willow for its construction. On 17 December it will lead the Shepton Mallet Lantern Parade, starting from Collett Park at 5 pm.

Anyone interested in volunteering as a steward for the Parade or for workshops should contact Nicolle Wilson on [email protected]. More information and a video on how to make a lantern can be found here.