An incredible convoy is taking to the region’s roads to launch a summer of art and conservation. The Great Big Rhino Road Trip will see a herd of life-size painted rhinos complete a 20-mile trek from Exeter to the English Riviera.
Rhinos will ride on lorries weighing in at 85 tonnes – including an articulated low-loader – supplied by Austen Knapmen, Gilpin Demolition and Dacol. They will be accompanied by a Stagecoach vintage double decker bus, two Dacol pick-up trucks and vehicles from Plastic Surgeons Fine Finishers and Paignton Zoo. Radio Exe and The Breeze will swap places as the convoy enters Torquay.
The road trip leaves Exeter Bus Station at 10.00am on Saturday 9th July, looping left into Sidwell Street and then onto the High Street, down South Street to join Topsham Road before heading for Starcross, Dawlish and Teignmouth. After that it joins the A380 and passes through Kingskerswell, then takes the Riviera Way, Newton Road, Avenue Road and the Torquay coast road. Finally, it makes its way through Paignton to finish at Paignton Zoo. The rhinos are due to arrive here at around 12.30, allowing for traffic. There will be a reception for rhino sponsors and artists at the Zoo.
Organiser Pippa Craddock, from Paignton Zoo, said: “We’ve worked with a lot of people, like Torbay Council, Devon County Council, Exeter City Council, South West Highways and Stagecoach, and drawn up a full event and traffic management plan. It will be an amazing spectacle that will launch The Great Big Rhino Trail in style!”
The aim is to raise awareness and funds to help Critically Endangered rhinos. The Great Big Rhino Project will put a free public art trail of 40 life-size painted rhinos around the streets, parks and open spaces of Exeter and the English Riviera, encouraging thousands of people to enjoy the spectacle. The Great Big Rhino trail starts on Saturday 30th July
