Plans for giant 4m-tall Herdwick ram sculpture in Grasmere

A planning application has been submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority to install two handcrafted sheep sculptures at Grasmere Gather, on the site of the former Grasmere Garden Centre.

The application, submitted on behalf of Richard Staite and Anna Troup, was registered on October 15 and seeks permission to remove an existing fountain and erect a Herdwick ram and lamb sculpture.

The centrepiece would be a bespoke steel Herdwick ram measuring approximately 4m tall and 2.5m wide.

It would stand on a 0.75m-high slate plinth, expected to be sourced from Heidelberg Quarry in Ingleton, and would be secured using hidden dowels beneath its hooves.

The ram would be handcrafted from solid steel bars by award-winning Cumbrian sculptor Andrew Kay, whose local business was established in 1994.

(Image: Planning documents)

According to the planning statement, the sculpture would be made to order specifically for Grasmere Gather and would therefore be unique.

Plans also propose removing the small stone fountain outside the entrance and replacing it with a smaller lamb sculpture, also handcrafted by Andrew Kay.

The lamb would measure around 1m high and 0.4m wide and, although fixed to the ground as required, would be small enough to be moveable.

Grasmere Gather was rebranded and repurposed by the applicants in 2023 and operates as a shop and hub showcasing Cumbrian products and traditional industries.

It stocks local brands and produces Herdwick tweed using wool sourced from farms in the Grasmere Valley.

The business has also hosted exhibitions exploring Cumbrian farming, geology and mining history, while an exhibition dedicated to Herdwick sheep is planned in conjunction with the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association.

The planning statement says the proposed sculptures would celebrate local craftsmanship and the Lake District's farming traditions, with the Herdwick breed closely associated with the area's cultural identity.

The site is within the Lake District National Park and World Heritage Site and sits next to, but outside, the Grasmere Conservation Area.

Nearby listed landmarks include Grade I-listed St Oswald's Church, the Grade II-listed Old Rectory and Church Bridge and the Grade II*-listed Wordsworth group of graves.

The planning statement argues that the sculptures have been positioned so they would not obscure important views of St Oswald's Church or detract from nearby heritage assets.