Staffordshire's much-loved public art trail, the Staffy Trail, is returning to Trentham Gardens for the school summer holidays. Organisers say the move will give families a new opportunity to view the sculptures in one location and prolong the visitor economy benefits seen across the county earlier this year.
Trail returns after county-wide run
The ten-week trail, which originally saw Staffordshire Bull Terrier sculptures installed in towns across the county, attracted thousands of visitors and, according to council figures, generated approximately £180,000 for the local economy. Following popular demand, eight of the sculptures will be sited at Trentham Gardens from Saturday 1 August until 18 September. A further sculpture, "Outdoors Muddy Paws" by Lynne Hollingworth, is already on permanent display in the Trentham Shopping Village.
"It was incredibly rewarding to see so many people discover new parts of our beautiful county in such a fun way. The trail has given a real boost to our local towns and businesses, and helped thousands of people see why Staffordshire is the nation's playground."
The council delivered the original trail in partnership with the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP). Organisers say the concentrated display at Trentham offers residents and visitors who missed sculptures in the towns a chance to complete the experience in one visit.
Local creativity on display
Alongside three of the Staffy sculptures, the winners of the "Staffy's Tales" creative writing competition will be exhibited. The competition was judged by the Young Poet Laureate for Staffordshire and the artist of the 'Sonney' Staffy sculpture.
- Trail dates: 1 August–18 September
- Number of sculptures at Trentham: 8 (plus one in Trentham Shopping Village)
- Economic impact of original trail: around £180,000
| Competition winner | Title |
|---|---|
| Lucy Goodman | What Sonney Means to Everyone |
| Reef Boguslawski | Jasper |
| Gemma-Louise Walsh | Beam Me Up Staffordshire |
Kerrie Pope, Head of Events and Marketing at the Trentham Estate, said the trail had been warmly received by local people and visitors. The council and partners are encouraging families to use the opportunity during the school holidays to view the artworks and explore the estate’s wider attractions.
Practical information: those planning to visit should check Trentham Gardens' opening times and any parking arrangements in advance, and bear in mind that the sculptures will be on display for a limited period only.
Organisers have framed the Staffy Trail as a blend of public art, community participation and local economic support. By relocating a selection of the sculptures to Trentham, they aim to maintain the momentum the trail created across Staffordshire and offer another chance for people to join in the event.
