THREE statues on this year’s Gromit Unleashed 3 sculpture trail are bringing visitors into the Frome Valley.
The trail runs until August 31, to raise funds for the Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Among the 53 sculptures across the region are three in local villages.
Rosebud
Rosebud (above), a Gromit designed by artist Tanith Gould, stands outside Winterbourne estate agent A J Homes’ office in Flaxpits Lane.
Owner Andrew Maunder said the statue, which takes inspiration from the mysterious final words of the central character in movie classic Citizen Kane, has been very busy with visitors since the trail opened on June 30.
He said: “Rosebud has been extremely popular since arriving, with all age groups attending daily.”
It is the second time A J Homes has sponsored a Gromit to help raise money for the Grand Appeal, having sponsored Toto on the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail in 2018.
Andrew said: “The reason we first sponsored Toto was two-fold: partly to put Winterbourne on the map and, most importantly, it is a fantastic charity to be involved with.
“Toto was the first opportunity we had to sponsor a Gromit and we felt grateful we were able to do so again this year.”
Andrew is inviting people who take photos with Rosebud to send them to the AJ Homes Facebook page.
Austentatious
The Kendleshire golf club in Henfield Road, Coalpit Heath, is home to what is being described as the first ‘living’ Gromit.
Austentatious (below) is a sitting Gromit whose legs and rear end are a pot for a green head and body made up of shrubs grown through a wire frame.
Kendleshire operations manager Rob McCullough said: “For months our sculpture has been grown by Agrumi Topiary and is being maintained by Ammil Garden Design.
“All we have to do is look after and water him!
“Due to the nature of Austentatious, he’s a little more delicate than most sculptures, so there is a child-friendly Austentatious-designed golf buggy parked close by for selfie shots – and both the Gromit and the buggy have been very popular.”
While The Kendleshire regularly hosts golf days through the year to raise funds for different good causes, Rob said the hosting of a statue for Gromit Unleashed 3 represents its first venture as a club and a staff to support a charity.
The name is inspired by the Regency gardens of Jane Austen novels.
Austentatious is in the club’s garden but can be visited by anyone.
The club is serving Gromit-inspired dishes and cakes to sculpture hunters in need of a break, and is also running a ‘Dog of the Day’ feature on social media.
Rob said: “Please make yourself known if you would like your four-legged friend to be given the title!”
Fisherman’s Friend
Wallace sculpture Fisherman’s Friend (above) is at the West Country Water Park in Trench Lane, Frampton Cotterell.
Artist Elaine Carr has put Wallace in wellies and fishing gear, complete with cheese-related tattoos.
As well as Gromits, Wallaces and a sprinkling of statues depicting villainous penguin Feathers McGraw, this year’s trail also includes new character Norbot the Smart Gnome, from the latest Wallace & Gromit film Vengeance Most Fowl.
Since the first Gromit Unleashed trail in 2013, followed in 2015 by Shaun in the City, then Gromit Unleashed in 2018, £20 million has been raised for the Grand Appeal through sponsorship, donations, exhibitions, souvenirs and the auctions held at the end of the trail.
More details of the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail can be found at www.gromitunleashed.org.uk.
Is your family following the Gromit Unleashed 3 trail this summer? If you’d like to see one of your pictures in the Voice, email it, with the name of the statue and anyone in the picture, to contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk or visit the Voice Facebook page by August 19.