An art installation honouring seven “game changers” has been unveiled at Whitby Abbey as part of the National Lottery’s 30th birthday celebrations. Whitby Abbey, a striking 13th-century Gothic ruin perched on the Yorkshire coast, has long been an iconic landmark, inspiring artists and writers for centuries, including Bram Stoker, whose famous novel Dracula was influenced by the abbey’s dramatic setting.
Managed by English Heritage, the abbey is a site of historical and cultural significance, drawing thousands of visitors each year to explore its ruins and learn about its rich past, including its origins as a 7th-century monastery founded by St Hilda.
The Heritage Tree installation pays tribute to the “extraordinary impact” the seven honoured individuals have made on heritage and conservation, according to a spokesperson from the National Lottery. Among those recognised are Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project, and Arthur Torrington CBE, co-founder of the Windrush Foundation, the BBC reports.
The 5,400 sq m (58,125 sq ft) artwork was created using Whitby Abbey’s landscape, with natural pigments painted on the ground to depict the honourees’ hands holding the roots of a tree.
A spokesperson for the National Lottery explained that these “game changers” were nominated by the public and selected by a panel. They were chosen as inspirational figures who have developed and delivered Lottery-funded projects aimed at preserving heritage, as well as enhancing science and the environment.
Sir Tony Robinson, who visited Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay, and RAF Fylingdales while filming the BBC’s Coast to Coast programme, expressed that he was “deeply honoured” to be involved in supporting the project.
The other “game changers” include Teresa Anderson MBE, director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement; Chantelle Lindsay, presenter and project officer with the London Wildlife Trust, and advocate for diversity and inclusivity in wildlife; Sandy Bremner, convener for the National Parks Authority; Lisa Power MBE, LGBTQIA+ rights campaigner and Pride Cymru volunteer; and Heidi McIlvenny, former project leader for Ulster Wildlife’s Sea Deep initiative.
Whitby Abbey’s unique location and cultural importance make it an apt site for this installation, blending historical preservation with modern celebrations of individuals driving change in heritage, conservation, and science.
Read More: 16 Of The Very Best Things To Do In Whitby
Feature Image Credit: David Popa
