Have ewe spotted Newcastle-headquartered tech consultancy Opencast’s bee-themed Shaun. This has been designed to create a real buzz – and a great wildflower seed giveaway running alongside aims to help make the UK a better ‘pollen-nation’.
Opencast’s Shaun, created by award-winning artist Lynne Hollingsworth, takes pride of place on the trail outside Newcastle Central Station, focusing attention on the importance of bees in nature, as well as the work of local community projects.
The bee-themed sculpture reflects the importance of sustainability and biodiversity to Opencast as a business, as well as highlighting the impact of activity in the community. Opencast is committed to improve the environment – and has a £200,000+ charity programme with local grassroots charities among the beneficiaries.
As well as its Shaun sculpture, Opencast has created a hive of free-bees and family activities to support local pollinators – and is offering everyone a free packet of bee-friendly wildflower seed mix to add colour to gardens and community spaces.
Opencast chief executive Tom Lawson said:
“We are delighted to sponsor St Oswald’s through the Shaun the Sheep on the Tyne art trail. We are a purpose-driven business – and our people are committed to making a positive impact on society.
“Our Shaun sculpture is a fun project with a serious message. Pollinators are vital to our environment and are responsible for a third of the food that we eat but they are in decline on a global scale as they face habitat loss, urbanisation and threats from herbicides and insecticides. We hope our family-friendly educational free-bees and our great wildflower seed giveaway will help make a positive impact on pollinator numbers in the North East.
“We’re committed to doing our bit to improve the environment in and beyond the North East – including efforts to decarbonise our own operations and support biodiversity. Our Shaun the Sheep BeeKind project is another step on our journey to make a positive impact on society”
The first people to see Opencast’s Shaun up close and personal at Central Station this week were buzzing. Glasgow mum Mary Murray is holidaying in Whitley Bay with her son and her own mum. Mary had travelled into Newcastle for the day and had spotted several of the Shaun the Sheep sculptures.
Mary said:
“They’re very colourful, particularly the sheep painted like a bee – they really brighten the city up. It’s a lovely idea to raise money for a charity and gives families something to do over the holidays.”
#ShaunTheBee
Photo: Thomas Jackson@Tynesight Photography