As part of the Town Council’s strategy to support local businesses recovering from the pandemic, as well as part of our tourism offer as we head out of lockdown, Councillor’s agreed at Full Council on 2nd March to support the Kingfisher Trail, which it is hoped will encourage visitors to return to the town over the summer months.
The Trails, organised by Cotswolds National Landscape, are inspired by the Rivers Severn and Thames and run down the western and eastern edges of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Similar to the Minerva’s Owls Sculpture Trail that the local businesses and the Town Council supported in 2018, the Kingfisher Trail will see the town host one of 21 large sculptures of a kingfisher, each decorated by a professional artist.
The 21st sculpture, the ‘Flying Kingfisher’, will move to a new location every fortnight. With Bradford on Avon at the southern end of the Cotswolds, the Trail will now include our portion of the Avon valley too!
“We are so pleased that Bradford on Avon Town Council has taken such a positive decision to be part of the Trail. This will be a welcome boost to local businesses, as well as families and visitors, who will visit host locations as part of a day out.”
…said James Webb, Partnerships and Fundraising Lead at Cotswolds National Landscape.
Our kingfisher will make two visits to the town, the first in June, and then returning in August. The trail will be available online and via a smartphone App and we will keep you updated of the locations nearer the time.
Proposing the scheme, Mayor of Bradford on Avon, Cllr Simon McNeill-Ritchie said:
“The trail is another great opportunity to bring visitors to the town, once it’s safe to do so, and part of our local economy and businesses recovery strategy. It’s also highly appropriate, given the regular visits by kingfishers to our stretch of the river Avon, and highlights our position as the most southerly – and one of the most beautiful – towns in the Cotswold AONB as well as tying in nicely to our promotion of local biodiversity.”
To celebrate the kingfisher’s arrival, we will also be launching a community art project – keep an eye out on our website and social media @BoATownCouncil for more information on how to get involved!