Bishop's Castle elephant trail idea hits buffers

Bishop’s Castle Community Plan applied for an EU-funded LEADER grant from the Rural Development Programme for England to finance the project.

It wanted to place one giant life-sized elephant in the town centre, complemented by a number of smaller elephants around town, linked by a trail for residents and visitors to explore.

But chairman Keith Whiddon said the group's bid was unsuccessful.

"They didn't think it would make a massive impact on tourism in Bishop's Castle," he said.

"They thought it was already very touristy. We don't agree with them but that's what they told us.

"We gave it our best shot though and I can't fault the group for everything it has done to try and get this project off the ground.

"Getting grant money is very competitive but we did everything we could."

The idea for the elephant theme came through Bishop’s Castle’s long-standing connection with the animals.

Residents

The crest in the town square features an elephant and it is believed elephants were even kept in Bishop's Castle during the Second World War.

Henry Hunter, owner of the Castle Hotel, also wanted to do something to mark the fact the hotel was built 300 years ago next year.

The ambitious project was supported by residents who had offered to lend their artistic skills.

Ideas put forward included a painting, a stained glass elephant and a tapestry version.

However Mr Whiddon said it is now the end of the line for the sculpture trail.

He added: "That's end now unfortunately. We wanted to do it on a national scale which means we would have needed about £50,000 and possibly more. There's no other funds we can get that kind of money from."