Way to art trail

Eye-catching public art in many of the city’s parks and gardens can now be discovered with the help of a new guide. The Canterbury Sculpture Trail features 14 works along a 3.2-mile route with detailed descriptions about each piece. Produced by the city council, the walk is described as “a fascinating and informative way” of learning more about the history of the city and seeing some of its most interesting landmarks. Since the late 1990s, the council, together with other organisations, including Canterbury Commemoration Society and Whitefriars Management Company, have introduced public art into the city. They say it adds delight, creates memorable landmarks and, in some instances, serves a practical purpose. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to complete the trail, which starts in Lady Wootton’s Green with the bronze recreation of Ethelbert and Bertha, which was installed in 2006. The statues symbolise the powerful political union between English King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha, a prominent figure in a dynasty that controlled much of what is now northern France. The route ends with one of the most contemporary works, the cast concrete and oak Greyfriars Seat by Alun Heslop in the Greyfriars Garden, which was installed last year. The guide is available free from the Canterbury Visitor Information Centre in The Beaney museum in the High Street. Visit www.canterbury.co.uk/thingsto-see-and-do.

Picture: Alan Langley FM4357183 The statue of Ethelbert, where the trail starts