If you’ve taken a stroll along Blackpool Promenade recently, you might have spotted something a little different resting on the Golden Mile. To mark Blackpool being tipped as the UK’s most popular beach destination of the summer, Railcard commissioned us to create a 12-tonne sand sculpture.
The piece was created after research by Railcard revealed that 79% of Brits want to explore more domestic landmarks, but high costs and time constraints often hold them back. By bringing these five landmarks together on Blackpool’s coast, the project highlights how easily accessible Britain’s heritage and natural wonders are by train—especially when saving 1/3 on travel with a Railcard.
The sculpture was created by Jamie, Peter and Dave over 3 days.
Why not create it on the beach using beach sand?
Beach sand in the UK is usually not particularly strong and once the water drains through it starts to crumble, so you are limited to what you can make. It also needs to be created in the tidal window on lots of beaches including Blackpool so it doesn’t hang around for long! Making sculptures out of building sand mean they can last longer. We have some sculptures in our studio that are years old! They can also have more detail, as you have more time to work on them. And the location of having the sand sculpture near the iconic comedy carpet and in front of Blackpool Tower is even better and meant it was seen by many many people while we were working on it and afterwards whilst it was on display. As we only add water to the building sand, the sand can be repurposed afterwards for its original use.
Dubbed a mini “Mount Rushmore” of Great Britain, this temporary seaside installation took three days and 12 tonnes of sand to bring to life.What’s Carved Into the Sand?The artwork brings together five of the most sought-after landmarks on the UK’s travel bucket list:The Tower of London – Standing tall at the heart of British history.Edinburgh Castle – Scotland’s iconic fortress perched high above the city.Stonehenge – The mysterious ancient stone circle.The Eden Project – Cornwall’s famous futuristic biomes.Loch Ness – Complete with a nod to its legendary resident monster.Whether you’re hopping on a train up to the Scottish Highlands or down to the Cornish coast, this transient masterpiece serves as a great reminder: your next adventure is just a rail journey away.
