Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Horseplay damages popular park statue
Flora and Fauna off for repairs
A mane attraction at an Airdrie park has been taken away for repair after being broken by horseplaying vandals.
The decorated fibreglass horse, named “Flora and Fauna”, was damaged in late summer with a hole being made in the side of the sculpture.
It has since been taken to a council workshop, where it has been repaired and is now being painstakingly restored; with officials hoping the landmark sight could be back in pride of place at its prominent spot by the end of this week.
Purchased for the area by Friends of Centenary and West End Parks three years ago, the Flora and Fauna statue is situated at the parks’ busy junction of Alexander Street and Aitchison Street, near Monklands Hospital.
It had first been partially damaged in May, with volunteers from the group managing to patch it back together; but asked for help from North Lanarkshire Council after the second, larger incident.
Friends group treasurer Alex Forrest told the Advertiser: “The first time around, it was just a bit cracked and we managed to pull the fibreglass back level and fix it in place; but this time it was cracked open quite substantially.
“We got in touch with the council as we felt the damage was too great for the group to repair, and thankfully they’ve managed to take it away to fix.
“It was first vandalised in May and then again more recently; we think people may have been trying to get onto the horse and have banged their feet against the side and cracked it.”
Alex added: “We’ve had a large number of calls and emails asking where Flora and Fauna is since its disappearance after it was taken away for repair.
“It’s become a well-known landmark – nurses at the hospital often tell me they give the horse a wee pat on their way past to start their shifts, and at Christmas people even put garlands around it!
“The statue is really quite a popular thing and it’s become an icon and a much-loved item in the park, so we’re looking forward to having it back in place.”
Council officials explained that the sculpture is currently at its bodywork and vehicle repair workshop in Bellshill, where the major damage has now been repaired, with delicate restoration now remaining to be completed.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “The hole has been repaired, and the repair area has been re-painted the correct shade of blue.
“We have made stencils based on the existing flower patterns on the horse, and have ordered in a selection of paint in similar colours.
“We will then be able to start applying the painted flowers, and then give the repair area a final coat of lacquer; the horse should hopefully be ready to be reinstalled by Friday.”
Flora and Fauna had originally formed part of an art sculpture trail named Ready Steady Gallop, displayed in Hamilton during the summer of 2014; with all 25 equine creations later being auctioned to raise funds for the Kilbryde Hospice.
Members of the Friends group, supported by additional funding from the Rotary Club, secured the unique life-sized artwork with a winning bid of £1800 towards the East Kilbride charity.
Park group chair Sam Bell told the Advertiser when the horse was acquired in 2014: “We thought it would be a great idea to bid, and were really delighted when it was put in place.
“We wanted it to go in the place where it would definitely be seen, and came up with the idea of it being where one road becomes two.
“It looks lovely and the name Flora and Fauna is indicative of what the park’s all about.”