The 40th anniversary of the Ironbridge Gorge’s adoption as a Unesco World Heritage Site will be marked by the introduction of a coracle sculpture trail.<\/p>\n
The round boats were a key form of transport across and along the River Severn for hundreds of years and are seen as a key part of the gorge’s heritage. <\/p>\n
Eleven semi-permanent sculptures will be placed in key locations.<\/p>\n
Telford and Wrekin Council hopes the social media friendly sculptures will encourage residents and visitors to explore the wider area and stay for longer.<\/p>\n
The gorge’s heritage as the birthplace of the industrial revolution was recognised by the UN cultural body in 1986, external<\/a>, which said it “encompasses an extraordinary concentration of mining zones, foundries, factories, workshops and warehouses.<\/p>\n The council said the trail would be up and running in 2027, and “supports the anticipated increase in visitor numbers as a result of the National Trust assuming control of the Ironbridge Museum sites<\/a>“.<\/p>\n The Ironbridge Coracle Trust, one of the partners in the new scheme, already has a trail around the area, external<\/a>.<\/p>\n There has also been a previous sculpture trail in the gorge, in 2018, populated by – perhaps less-historically relevant – giant multi-coloured ducks.<\/p>\n