Flint Point ‘Big Flintshire Guardian’ sculpture Unveiled

Flintshire Countryside Service recently unveiled a wooden sculpture on the Coast Path.

This £5,000 art project was to create a timber soldier standing guard looking out towards Hilbre Island from Flint Point.

The Countryside Service secured £43,000 of funding from the Coastal Communities Fund for improvements on Flint Point. Projects are on ongoing including footpath resurfacing, a high tide alternative footpath, an erosion diversion, other footpath and fencing repairs and an art project.

A local artist, Mike Owens, was commissioned to carry out the work. Made from larch, it stands three metres tall, steel rope was used to make the body armour, and galvanised round headed nails used to create the metal gauntlet gloves

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Bernie Attridge, said:

“The Big Flintshire Guardian or BFG is a fantastic addition to the site. It is already a very popular attraction with local residents and will draw a lot of people down during the Eisteddfod at Flint in the next couple of months.”

Local residents were invited down, along with members of Samhain and Cymdial Medieval Groups in costume for the official launch.

The Coastal Communities Fund is funded by the Government with income from the Crown Estate’s marine assets.

It is delivered by the Big Lottery Fund on behalf of UK Government and the Devolved Administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Main picture: From left:local residents George and Carol Andrews, Christopher Roberts Cymdial Medieval Society, Roy and June Davies local residents,volunteer Jim Craven , THE BF with artist Mike Owens, Stephen Lewis Countryside Ranger, Charles Evans Gunther Samhain Medieval Society.