In August 2020 a number of large, colourful swan creations started to appear on the streets of Burton upon Trent, causing quite a buzz around the town.
The Burton Swan Trail was the creation of Tilley Bancroft who, along with a team of committed partners and the generous sponsorship of local businesses, set about creating the ‘pop-up’ art exhibition in an attempt to encourage people from far and wide to come and enjoy a day seeking out our feathered friends.
People walking the trail have been able to download a mobile app which has helped them to track and keep a record of all of the swans they have found. So far the app has been downloaded over 1500 times and over 600 printed maps have been collected from the Brewhouse Arts Centre by swan seekers. Bearing in mind that families will be the main groups taking part, it is estimated that this scheme has encouraged between 4,000 and 5,000 people to come and enjoy a day out in Burton.
Tilley said: “I am absolutely astounded by the number of people who have taken part in the trail. It’s been an incredible uptake and with everything that’s going on, we couldn’t have asked for more.
“I know that we have had visitors from as far afield as Exeter and Portsmouth. We are planning to carry out a ‘just for fun’ competition on social media to see who has travelled the furthest. All I can say is thank you to everyone who has taken part for making it such a success”.
Cllr Ed Barker, Deputy Leader for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “Given the circumstances we have been dealing with as a nation, I am grateful to Tilley and her team for working so hard to make sure this project took place and for putting a smile on people’s faces.
“The fact that so many people have downloaded the app or collected a map and come to enjoy a day out in Burton is fantastic. I took two enjoyable days walking around the trail and saw many fellow swan hunters taking selfies with swans and even encouraging their children to have their photographs taken too!! The trail is due to finish over the weekend of the 17th and 18th October, so there is still plenty of time for more people to come and take part”.
At the end of the project 23 of the 25 swans, along with 1 piece of artwork from each of the team of artists, will be auctioned off to raise much needed funds for crisis charity Burton YMCA, which helps homeless people in the town.
The date for the auction is the 26th October, and it will be live streamed by Richard Winterton Auctioneers Ltd from 7.30pm. Anyone wanting to place a bid will need to register online with them.