A-mer-mazing! Julia’s House makes a splash with the Great Tail Trail

A new public art project will see 40 giant mermaid tail sculptures placed across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in the spring of 2025.

The Great Tail Trail is billed as the UK’s first mermaid tail sculpture trail.

It will raise funds for Dorset children’s hospice charity, Julia’s House.

For eight weeks, from April 5, 2025, the colourful sculptures, which are 1.8 metres tall, will be on display in popular locations across BCP.

The trail was launched at Rockwater restaurant and bar in Branksome Chine.

Guests witnessed the revealing of the first giant mermaid tail sculpture, designed by internationally acclaimed local artist Stuart Semple.

He said: “It’s an honour to be chosen as the first artist to paint one of the giant mermaid tails.

“The work that Julia’s House does is really, really important.

“It helps so many families, and to be able to contribute my art to something like The Great Tail Trail means the world to me.”

As well as encouraging local residents to re-discover the towns they love, the art spectacle is expected to attract thousands of visitors from outside the area.

Cllr Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, said: “I am delighted that The Great Tail Trail is coming to BCP in 2025.

“This will create a wonderful tourist attraction for local people and visitors to our area and will do so much to raise the profile of our local children’s hospice, Julia’s House.

“Having visited them on several occasions I know first-hand the inspirational work that they do to support seriously ill children and their families.

“I would encourage everyone to get involved and look forward to taking part in the trail myself.”

Each of the giant mermaid tail sculptures will be sponsored by a local business or organisation and given its own unique and eye-catching design by specially-commissioned locally and nationally-renowned artists.

Businesses already confirmed as sponsors include Organix, London Business Forum, London Land Group, Twenty7Tec, Norco, Bournemouth Water and local full-service marketing and design agency, Fathom, who are creative partners for the trail.

Schools, nurseries and youth groups will be joining in the fun too, adopting and designing their own smaller Tiny Tail sculpture.

Around 60 will form part of the main art trail.

At the end of the eight-week free family friendly trail, a grand farewell event sees all 100 of the one-off artist-designed sculptures brought together under one roof.

The giant sculptures will then be auctioned at a separate event to raise funds for Julia’s House, which relies on public funding to provide its life-changing care.

The Great Tail Trail is brought to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole by Julia’s House and Wild in Art, the producer of spectacular public art events.

It was also behind the Pride in Bournemouth lion trail in 2011.