Member Article

'Welcome to the jungle' for city centre businesses in Bradford

A SPECTACULAR display of life-size plastic brick animals is making tracks for Bradford to help drive footfall for city centre businesses.

The Animal Paradise trail of hand-built brick statues has appeared across the globe since it launched in 2018 at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, popping up in places as far apart as Monaco, the Dallas Cowboys’ ground in Texas and Brookfield Zoo in Chicago.

The BRICKLIVE interactive attraction has been organised by Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) to create a great family day out in the city centre from Saturday, March 5, to Sunday, March 13, and drive traffic into local shops and hospitality venues.

The free tour features unique models of endangered animals and has been devised to “entertain whilst educating children and families about the world’s major environmental issues and the importance of conservation and biodiversity.”

Leanne Holmes, project officer at the BID – the limited not-for-profit company funded by more than 600 levy-paying businesses and organisations to help promote and develop the city centre – said: “Mini explorers will have great fun mounting an expedition to hunt down these stunning animals across ice caps, jungles, rivers and forests, right in the heart of the city centre!

“They’ll be able to look out for a Bengal tiger, a dolphin, a snow leopard, macaws, a giant panda and lots, lots more.

“We think this is a really fun family attraction and we’re thrilled to have it in Bradford. It’s been a big hit in cities around the world and we’re proud to be able to bring it here.”

The city centre trail will feature 15 animal models made from more than 500,000 bricks. Visitors will be able to download their locations from the bradfordbid.co.uk website and from the LoyalFree app and everyone who completes the trail on the app will be in with a chance of winning a £200 Bradford city centre gift card. Trail leaflets will also be available from a variety of locations around the route.

There will also be lots of opportunities to take photos and designated locations for “selfies.”

The organisers, BRICKLIVE, say: “The world’s wildlife has sadly declined in the last generation. Oceans, ice caps, jungles, rivers and forests are struggling to cope with the growing pressure upon them.

“In the current and very serious world we live in, BRICKLIVE Animal Paradise brings important animal and habitat facts and statistics to life in a fun brick-built environment.

“The displays are themed around animals that exist within various habitats across the globe - the four habitats represented in Animal Paradise are Wildlands, Snow and Ice, Ocean and Jungle.

“As well as providing a fun and friendly environment and the perfect day out for the whole family, we hope it will help in motivating children and families to act responsibly towards the environment.”

“BID manager Jonny Noble said: “Now most of the Covid restrictions have been lifted and we’re returning close to ‘normality,’ there’s no better time to be bringing our city centre streets to life and making them a livelier and more fun place to be.

“Bradford BID will be working hard to create lots more attractions in the coming months to help animate the city’s retail heart and make it a more entertaining place to come and visit for everyone.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Perry Austin-Clarke .