Guernsey Goat Trail hoping to strike Gold

Tuesday 16 February 2021

Preparations for the rescheduled Golden Guernsey Goat Trail are well underway, with three months to go before 52 life-size sculptures go on display across the island.

Autism Guernsey is organising the interactive community fundraiser with support from the Guernsey Adult Literacy Project.

The charity has recently secured planning permission for two of the 52 fibreglass sculptures, one to be installed by the Market Buildings and the other across from the Liberation Monument, between 15 May and 31 August. 

It is a key milestone for the organisers, with many of the goats now painted by school pupils, sponsoring businesses and others taking part.

Pictured: Plans for the trail have had to be evolved because of a second Covid-19 lockdown. Aside from the two sculptures that required planning permission because of their locations, all of the other sculptures will be on private land, but publicly accessible. 

Autism Guernsey Fundraising Manager Mandy Rowlinson hopes the end result will be an engaging, family-friendly activity that raises both funds and awareness.

"Once all the goats are done, we will be putting them in 52 different locations in May," she said.

"We have had an app designed so that people can take a selfie with each one and anyone who does all 52 will go into a draw to win an iPad."

The trail was due to take place last year, but had to be hooked as the spring lockdown meant that the schools taking part could not finish their goats.

The fundraiser is a spiritual successor to the Donkey Parade, in 2011, and the Cow Parade the following year, which were both assembled by the Guernsey Adult Literacy Project. 

Pictured: Pupils from Melrose School designing their Guernsey Goat earlier this year.

Once the trail is complete, the goats will be auctioned off at St James on 16 September.

"We are hoping to raise £50,000 from the whole trail," said Ms Rowlinson. There will be a special raffle for Autism Guernsey's goat in a bid to raise much-needed funds, with many charities' fundraising efforts taking a hit this year and last because of the pandemic.