Donkey Do !!

Visitors to the beaches of Weston-super-Mare this summer will not only be able to enjoy the famous donkey rides, but will also have the chance to take part in a new donkey-themed town attraction. The Grand Pier has launched a scheme to brighten up the town with a trail of life-sized, decorated donkey statues. Local businesses are invited to sponsor each of the donkeys, with the money raised going to Children in Need and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Local artists will design the donkeys and paint them with the cost of the work being sought from local businesses. The initiative – which will see the colourful resin donkeys dotted around the town centre and seafront – is being organised to mark the 200th anniversary of tourism in the seaside resort and the re-opening of the Grand Pier in the summer. “We want as many businesses as possible to sponsor a donkey to help create an exciting event in the town,” Helen Ritchie, Grand Pier marketing manager, told local papers.

Local artist Nick Sparks, who has designed one of the donkeys says, “The idea is based on the ‘Pigs in Bath’ project of 2008, to help celebrate 200 years of tourism in Weston. I put my name down to paint one of the full size donkeys which will be initially placed around the town before being herded onto the pier to be auctioned for charity later in the year. Each of the beasts is sponsored by a local business. Mine is sponsored by Wookey Hole Caves so I have tried to give it an air of the mystical to go along with their witch theme. The surrealist in me is attracted by the idea of brightly painted donkeys spread around the town- perhaps being attracted here in search of the legendary giant carrot????”

There will be more to come on this project - Visit the Donkey Parade website here.