I can’t believe it, we’re nearly at the school half-term holidays again! Where did the last 7 weeks go? If you’ve got children of school age you probably base your life around the academic calendar too and are looking forward to, or dreading (!), the impending half-term break. I thought I’d share with you a recent trip that we took to the Suffolk coast to give you a little inspiration for a day out during the holidays and, if you read on, there’s also a chance to nominate someone special to win a holiday to Majorca, but more about that later on!
The reason for my recent trip to the seaside was to visit an art installation. To mark their 50th anniversary The Landmark Trust commissioned five art installations by Anthony Gormley as part of its LAND sculpture series. Each sculpture was created in response to the location and was installed on five different Landmark sites across the country. The sculpture that I visited was on the Suffolk coast so it was a fun visit to the seaside and an ideal day out for the school holidays.
The sculpture is erected on the top of the Martello Tower in Aldeburgh and is visible from ground level. It is possible to arrange rooftop viewings at specific times but you would need to get in touch with The Landmark Trust to arrange this. To find the sculpture head towards the far south of Aldeburgh seafront – it is clearly visible from a distance due to the high position of the sculpture on the top of the Martello Tower. The series of sculptures celebrates the relationship between people places and time, and I can certainly see why; the location is so imposing that you can’t help but be affected by it – looking up, with sun glinting in your eyes, time seems to stand still as you view the sculpture.
Five of Gormley’s sculptures are located around the country in Suffolk, Dorset, Argyll and Bute, Warwickshire and the Bristol Channel so there’s probably one LAND sculpture close enough to you for a day trip during the half term holidays. I’d recommend going to visit one – or collect all five! – before the installation comes to an end in May 2016. The sculpture at Kimmeridge Bay has already been brought down by heavy seas last month but the trust are working to get it back in position soon. And while visiting, pick up one of these lovely little map books from any nearby book shops (I got mine from the Aldeburgh book shop) or you can download a PDF copy from The Landmark Trust before you visit.
Now, on to the details of the competition I mentioned at the start of my post today – Do you know someone who really needs a break? A person who always has a smile on their face, puts others first or works hard in a demanding job? Well, icelolly.com want to celebrate the achievements of those who go the extra mile and could really do with a break! They could be a member of your family, a colleague or friend, an emergency services worker, carer or just all-round good egg – have a think about who you know who deserves a treat. If someone has done something nice for you, why not repay them with a nomination in icelolly.com’s #HolidayHeroes campaign and help them to win a trip to Majorca and unwind from life on a relaxing break!
What do you think of public art installations like this? Will you be making a trip to visit one or more of the LAND sculpture series this half term holiday? Or do you have something different planned? If you want some more ideas for making the most of your half term with the kids, I’ve shared a couple of guides for days out on my blog – check out my post on the National Railway Museum at York, tips for a trip to Thetford Forest, my guide to Southwold Pier or my ideas for day out in Blackpool. And if you visit the LAND sculptures please do let me know!
This article is a sponsored collaboration. The pink links in the content indicate a sponsored link or information source. The blog post reflects my own experience and the sponsor hasn’t had any control over my content 🙂
