When you think of a 140th birthday celebration for an iconic bakery like Cooplands, you might imagine tiered cakes, mountains of pastries, and a whole lot of yummy treats. And you’d be right, they did do that! But for their special milestone, Cooplands decided to add an extra sprinkle of magic – by asking us to create a monumental beach sand sculpture of a birthday cake right on Scarborough beach!
A Sand Sculpture Spectacle for a Special Birthday
We packed our buckets and spades (and a whole lot of expertise!) and headed to the picturesque coast of Scarborough for what would be an unforgettable PR activation. Our mission? To build a colossal sand birthday cake to honour Cooplands’ incredible 140-year journey.
Led by Jamie Wardley, alongside the talented Dave and Peter from our team, the beach transformed into our temporary studio. With the sun shining brightly, our trio tirelessley compacted the sand, laying the foundation for a truly grand structure. The end result was a site for hungry eyes: a magnificent sand cake standing 1.4 meters tall and 3 meters wide, complete with a perfectly carved slice, ready for a sandy celebration!
This massive undertaking wasn’t a solo act. We had fantastic support from six members of the Silverback event crew, who tirelessly dug sand and ferried water, ensuring our sand sculpture had the strength and stability it needed to stand proud.
From Spectators to Sculptors: Fun for All Ages!
But the fun didn’t stop at the giant cake! Cooplands wanted to engage the whole community, so right next to the live carving action, Jocasta and Amy set up some sand sculpting workshops. Children and families created their own delightful “baked goodies” (with helpful hints and tips from our team). Imagine a beach dotted with sand cakes, gingerbread men, and donuts – all created by budding young sand artists!
So, what was the secret to good beach sand sculpture? The humble ruler! This simple, everyday item is one of the best tools in a sand sculptor’s kit, perfect for carving the clean, sharp lines and creating the shadows that truly bring a sculpture to life.
As a wonderful finishing touch, Cooplands generously provided wooden rulers for everyone to take home, a fantastic way to inspire our new artists to continue practising their skills long after the day was over.
A Recipe for Success: Sunshine, Smiles, and Sand in Your Eye!
The atmosphere on Scarborough beach was electric. The warm, sunny weather brought out crowds of excited people, eager to witness the spectacle and join in the festivities. Cooplands had organised a fantastic array of extra activities, making it a truly vibrant and memorable day for everyone.
All good things must come to an end, but in the world of giant beach sand sculpture, the ending is one of the best parts! Once the event concluded, it was time for the “demolition.” For safety reasons, we always dismantle our sculptures to ensure no one is tempted to climb on them unsupervised.
After Jamie and the events team kicked things off, the real joy came next. The enormous pile of sand was instantly transformed into the ultimate playground, with children laughing as they jumped and slid down the newly-formed sand dune. It was the perfect, high-energy finale to a wonderful day.
Both the colossal sand sculpture and the interactive workshops were a huge hit with the client and the public alike. The striking sand cake certainly captured attention, generating a significant amount of press and proving to be a highly successful PR activation.
It was a joy to be part of such a unique and celebratory event. A huge happy 140th birthday to Cooplands Bakery! We loved helping you make a splash – or should we say, a sandcastle – on your special day. Who knew you could get so much joy (and maybe a little sand in your eye!) from a beachside birthday bash?
