News Meet giant dinosaur at launch of new ‘Magical Beasts’ Sculpture Trail
Everyone is invited to come along to the launch of a new ‘Magical Beasts’ sculpture trail on Wednesday 3 April at 10.30am in Maidstone Town Centre when they will get the chance to meet a giant T-Rex, a baby Iguanodon and other dinosaurs.
At the launch, Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) will be unveiling the brand new sculpture trail featuring six bespoke artworks. The fun and quirky designs will include two baby Iguanodon dinosaurs, two cheeky gremlin characters and two baby elephants.
The permanent sculpture trail will start from Brenchley Gardens, continue along the riverside to the Archbishops’ Palace and on to the Lockmeadow Entertainment Compex. Each sculpture will include a QR code giving more details on various aspects of Maidstone’s fascinating heritage from geology to local industries and the town’s Market.
The free, family-friendly fun will start in Brenchley Gardens from 10.30am, when the dinosaurs will go on a walkabout with their handlers. They can be found in the park or around the town centre throughout the morning.
The entertainment will continue at Lockmeadow with another chance for people to see the dinosaurs and take part in more interactive fun including a lesson in ‘how to train your dinosaur’ at 1.30pm and 2.30pm.
Maidstone Borough Council Cabinet Member for Communiities, Leisure and Arts, Cllr Claudine Russell, said:
I am really looking forward to seeing the new magical beasts sculpture trail, the six individual creatures all telling a bit of Maidstone’s fascinating history as the County Town of Kent. This launch looks so much fun with the huge dinosaur wandering around, perfect entertainment for the Easter school holidays, bring the whole family!
The Sculpture Trail also features on a newly developed digital app ‘Maidstone Trails’, which guides users around the town’s historic sites and landmarks. The app can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. More information can be found at https://www.visitmaidstone.com/things-to-do/tours-and-sightseeing/maidstone-trails-app
The new sculptures have all been designed and created by father and son artist team, Gary and Thomas Thrussell, who also created the Iguanodon sculpture at Maidstone East Station, which links with the new Magical Beasts trail.
This project – Magical Beasts Sculpture Trail, received funding from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which brings together local residents to help improve areas in their community whilst boosting their own wellbeing. Information about UKSPF can be found at: UK Shared Prosperity Fund