Puffins arrive to go on parade next year
A CIRCUS of 60 fibreglass Atlantic puffins have landed in the island to be transformed by local artists ahead of the 2023 Guernsey Puffin Parade to raise money for Autism Guernsey and the GSPCA.
The 60 sculptures, which have travelled from the Philippines, arrived yesterday and it is hoped that they will be distributed to artists within the next week.
‘We’ve got more sculptures this year, as the Golden Guernsey goats were so popular last year that a few people missed out,’ said Autism Guernsey fundraising manager Mandy Rowlinson.
‘Like the Golden Guernsey Goat Trail, there will be an app and a Puffin Parade for people to see them on location before they are auctioned off.’
When deciding on the theme of the event, organisers agreed that they would keep the theme as animals that are synonymous with the Bailiwick and, after deliberation, puffins were deemed the favourite.
The puffins were unloaded from the Ferryspeed vehicle and put into storage, before they are relocated to their temporary homes to be decorated.
They are made from high quality, durable, cold cast poly-resin and fibreglass, and will be decorated by local artists, clubs and community groups, schools, charities and day centres.
‘The artists are mainly groups or organisations, but there are some individuals as well,’ said Mrs Rowlinson.
‘Now we are looking for local carpenters to help us in building the wooden plinths that the puffins will sit on.’
The puffins will go on display in April 2023 to coincide with the arrival of puffins for their breeding season.
Like last year's Golden Guernsey goats, they will be auctioned in the autumn.
n The last few puffins are still waiting to be sponsored. Details can be found at puffinparade.org.gg.
