Thousands expected to see sculptures

Organisers hope more than 20,000 people will attend a sculpture exhibition at a swan sanctuary.

Sculpture In The Sanctuary at Reg Taylor’s Garden Centre, Normanton, is now open to the public.

The exhibition features more than 650 works by around 100 artists in stone, glass, bronze, ceramic, iron, wood and recycled items such as tyres.

There are also kinetic water sculptures.

Artwork is installed in the grounds of the sanctuary, which includes several shallow lakes and a wooded area, and in the large greenhouses at the garden centre.

The first exhibition two years ago attracted more than 10,000 visitors.

Mr Paul Taylor, a garden centre director, said they hoped this exhibition would be even more popular.

He said: “We want to double the number of people who come along. This year we have got a lot more to see because there is a lot more artwork and hopefully a lot more pulling people round.

“We are expecting it to be extremely popular.”

Mr Taylor, who put the exhibition together with his brother, Mr Mark Taylor, and sister, Mrs Helen Barry, said it took about three weeks to put the sculptures in place.

He said: “It has taken longer this time to set it up and a lot of effort has gone into sourcing the work and artists and a lot of effort has gone into setting up the pieces.”

The exhibition will run until Monday, August 29.

The public will be asked to guess the number of toy soldiers that makes up an installation as part of a competition during the exhibition.

Money raised through the competition will go to Help For Heroes.