Plans to feature giant heron sculpture in art trail

The artwork took about 18 months to construct

Plans have been submitted for a giant steel heron sculpture to be installed as part of an art trail.

The proposals would see The Great Heron located on a out-of-use platform that was originally installed as part of a swing bridge in Castletown.

Created by St Mark's based artists Darren Jackson and Stephanie Quayle, the 26-foot (8m) heron would be part of the Silverburn Art Trail, which runs along the Silverburn River from Castletown Harbour to Silverdale Glen.

In the application, Castletown Commissioners said the sculpture would be a "major artwork" for the wider island and "increase visitor numbers" in the local area.

The sculpture has been funded from a grant by the Manx Lottery Trust awarded to the Creative Network, but will be gifted to Castletown Commissioners on installation.

The Heron sculpture is 26 ft (8m) high

Artists Darren Jackson and Stephanie Quayle approached the network after hearing about the plans in 2018, and proposed the heron sculpture at the site in Castletown.

Ms Quayle said that they decided on a heron as the birds could often be see along the river, and the sculpture "was to try and do justice to that glimpse of nature that we are fortunate to get here".

"They have this lovely quality where they stand statue still, waiting for their next meal," she continued.

While Ms Quayle sketched and designed the concept, Mr Jackson built and welded the sculpture, which took approximately 1,300 hours during an 18-month period, before the structure was galvanised.

Mr Jackson said: "We always thought if the island has these big sculptures around then it would attract tourists across the year."

After looking into it, it "seems as though it is the largest heron sculpture in the world", he added.