East Lothian Courier | News | A tern of endearment

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th November, 2007 09:30

A tern of endearment

AN iconic bird sculpture is coming home to roost in North Berwick, thanks to a community’s determination and a £20,000 funding swoop by a supermarket giant.

Geoffrey Dashwood’s bronze sculpture of an Arctic tern, which stood outside the Scottish Seabird Centre from 2000-2003, had been on temporary loan from the Pangolin studio in Gloucester.

It quickly became associated with the centre and North Berwick, and appeared in many publications and postcards.

A funding appeal was launched in 2003 to secure the future of the 7ft-high work of art, but the community campaign Save our Tern failed to prevent it taking flight following the end of the loan period.

But now East Lothian Council’s Percent for Art policy has helped secure its return.

Council leader and local ward member, Councillor David Berry, said: “The council has long had a policy that requires developers to provide funds for public artworks as a condition of planning consent.

“The council’s arts service works closely with the planners to offer developers advice about how the percent for art policy should be implemented.

“When Tesco advanced plans for a new store in North Berwick, I was delighted when they agreed with the enthusiastic lobbying of the Scottish Seabird Centre and its chief executive, Tom Brock, that their contribution would be used towards bringing the tern sculpture back to the town.

“Local residents and regular visitors to North Berwick and the seabird centre are looking forward to having the tern sculpture back on Anchor Green.”

Tesco’s contribution towards the permanent return of the sculpture has not been disclosed, but it’s understood to be in excess of £20,000.

News of the bird’s forthcoming “migration” north has been welcomed enthusiastically by community leaders.

Pat Burton, chairwoman of North Berwick and District Community Council, said: “I was not involved in the campaign to keep the tern here, but I know a lot of people were sad to see it go.

“It was really quite spectacular.

“I didn’t realise that there had been recent moves to bring it back, so it is a total suprise.

“But I am absolutely delighted, so well done to the council, to Tesco and to Tom Brock for making this possible.”

The sculpture is expected “home” around next April.

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