An innovative tourism and art project has culminated in an unusual auction at a Lake District hotel, raising funds for the rehabilitation of patients recovering from brain injury and stroke.
Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina in Windermere has played host to the Go Herdwick grand auction of 60 highly decorated, life-size model sheep.
Businesses and organisations from across Cumbria originally sponsored the flamboyant flock, with the fibreglass models of the Herdwick ewe transformed by artists and prepared for display over the summer along the bus route from Kendal to Keswick.
English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues hosted two of the not-so-woolly wanderers as ‘grazing guests’ over the summer at Low Wood Bay. Wanda was designed by Marty Strutt and sponsored by Stagecoach, and Burly has been greeting visitors at the back of the hotel courtesy of designer Lionel Playford and sponsorship from Burlington Slate Ltd.
The sell-out auction was held to support local charity, the Lake District Calvert Trust, with the model sheep sold off individually to the highest bidders. Over 250 people purchased tickets for the event and with bids for each fantasy ewe expected to exceed £1,250, several bidding wars broke out throughout the evening.
The highest successful individual bid was for £20,000 which secured the purchase of ‘Parker’ by Mandy Allan, Burly fetched £5,500 and Wanda went for £3,600. The auction has thus far raised over £250,000.
Nevil Jeffery, the general manager at Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina, says: “English Lakes Hotels is extremely proud to be a supporter of Lake District Calvert Trust, and this has been a highly innovative and exciting fundraising project in which to be involved to mark its 40th anniversary.
“If you had told me before the Go Herdwick project existed that the hotel would be hosting an indoor auction for 60 sheep, I would not have believed it. It’s been a really creative way to bring local businesses together, promote the Lake District and raise funds for a worthy cause. And there’s been a lot of competitive fun along the way as bidders sought to out-bid each other.”
Go Herdwick is an inspirational project which has combined art, community generosity, tourist attraction and valuable funds to assist the local charity. The final proceeds from the auction will go towards the £1.3 million renovation of a Calvert Trust site in Keswick and will provide essential rehabilitation for stroke victims and those who have suffered brain injuries.
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