A giant land artwork the size of four Olympic swimming pools has been revealed at Whitby Abbey, honouring heritage and conservation game changers as part of The National Lottery’s birthday celebrations. The National Lottery marked its 30th birthday with the epic 5,400 square metre ‘Heritage Tree’ land-art enveloping English Heritage’s Whitby Abbey in Yorkshire. It was unveiled on Tuesday by actor and broadcaster Sir Tony Robinson.
The artwork celebrates the extraordinary achievements of seven Heritage ‘Game Changers’ – including the founders of the Eden Project and Windrush Foundation. The breath-taking installation is created by renowned land artist David Popa, who used the abbey’s landscape and natural pigments painted on the ground to show the Game Changer’s hands holding the roots of a tree.
The ‘Heritage Tree’ honours the seven people who have changed the game across heritage, land, and nature over the last three decades. Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £30 million is raised every week for good causes. This artwork is the second of four unique activities happening across the UK over the coming weeks to mark The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday.
Sir Tony Robinson expressed his deep honour for supporting The National Lottery’s celebration of these extraordinary people. The creation of a stunning ‘Heritage Tree’ installation at Whitby Abbey honours seven Game Changers who have had a significant impact on heritage and conservation.
Eilish McGuinness, CEO of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, highlighted the importance of people behind the heritage, dedicating their lives to preservation and enrichment. The National Lottery’s 30th anniversary celebrations focus on 30 inspirational Game Changers who have achieved remarkable feats in the last 30 years with the help of National Lottery funding.
National Lottery funding has supported thousands of projects, strengthening heritage and benefiting communities across the UK. The ‘Heritage Tree’ installation at Whitby Abbey symbolizes the deep roots and ever-growing impact of the Game Changers, reflecting a shared ambition to strengthen heritage.
The unveiling of the ‘Heritage Tree’ marks a significant milestone in The National Lottery’s 30th birthday celebrations. The initiative recognises the incredible impact of individuals and projects driven by the National Lottery funding, with the final two Game Changers set to be announced on New Year’s Eve.