The tansy beetle trail that ran throughout the summer is over. But you can still see the sculptures.
York Trailblazers saw 17 of the giant beetles dotted around the city.
Modelled after the endangered insect found by the River Ouse in York, each sculpture was individually decorated to celebrate a city pioneer.
Trailblazers was a joint project between York Civic Trust and Make It York. It finished on 30 September.
But all the sculptures remain on display. Thirteen sculptures have been rehomed at:
- Askham Bryan College – two sculptures will be on display at a tansy beetle themed garden. This location is particularly important – you will see hundreds of Tansy Beetles out over the summer months
- Park & Ride locations – one each at Askham Bar, Grimston Bar, Monks Cross, Poppleton Bar and Rawcliffe Bar
- Web Adventure Park (two sculptures)
- Height Designs
- St Andrew’s Church
- Hempland Primary School
- St Nicks Environmental Centre.
The last three were community groups involved in the project.
Four sculptures are remaining in their original location at:
- The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre
- City of York Council HQ at West Offices
- Fishergate Primary School
- The Place activity centre, Sanderson House, Bramham Road, Acomb.
Tom Springett of Metalwork Creations designed these metal works of art.
The project was co-curated with community groups to celebrate York’s unsung heroes, working with local artists to create something unique and meaningful to them.
Favourite sculpture
Visitors were invited to vote for their favourite sculpture, and the top choice was this stunning piece for York Young Carers.
Young adult carers aged 16-25 from the York Carers Centre did the research, and it was designed by Zoe Phillips, a mixed media artist.
The group felt the sculpture should enable carers to recognise themselves as trailblazers for the roles they hold, sacrifices they make and difficulties they go through for the love of the person they care for.
They said the sculpture design “should be not what it appears – with lots going on underneath”.
Chief executive officer of York Civic Trust Andrew Morrison said: “It is wonderful that the impact of the York Trailblazers’ sculptures have all found a permanent home to continue to inspire people that York’s heritage is rich and diverse.
“The fact that all 17 sculptures will be accessible for the long term shows that temporary interventions like sculpture trails can be entirely sustainable and make a lasting impression.”
“The York Trailblazers Project has had a profound impact, drawing in visitors and fostering a sense of pride within the community,” said Sarah Loftus, MD of Make It York.
“It showcased local talent, celebrated creativity, and brought people together to explore York in a new way.”
And Janice Dunphy, MD of Web Adventure Park said: “We are thrilled to be the custodians of two Tansy Beetle Sculptures which have taken pride of place in the park.
“We intend to use them to educate our visitors about this scarce species and hopefully encourage children to take an interest in nature and our amazing wildlife, we will add some information on to the base of the sculpture.
“The connection between the park – which used to be called ‘Creepy Crawlies’, and the fact that Wigginton village name derives from the Olde English pre-7th Century personal name ‘Wicga’, meaning ‘a beetle’.
“This coupled with the fact that the Web will celebrate the twenty years of opening in October makes it a perfect time for the sculptures to arrive.”