National Land Art competition launched

The Tour of Britain has today launched its national land art competition for the 2023 race.

Community groups, schools, businesses, and land owners along the route are being encouraged to take part in the competition during the eight stages of the 2023 Tour (Sunday 3 – 10 September).

This year’s competition marks the fifth running of the annual prize, which the search underway to find the successor to last year’s winner, the innovative Spike on a Bike hedgehog in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire 

The other previous champions are South Molton farmers, Devon (2018), Egerton Park and Walmsley Primary School, Greater Manchester (2019), and Dr Jenna Ross OBE, Craskins Farm Aberdeenshire (2021).

The winning entry will be decided after the race by a panel comprising race director Mick Bennett, members of the ITV4 broadcast team, and staff from the race organisation. Winners will be presented with a trophy; two runners-up will also be announced.

Entries for the 2023 competition can be made online now at tourofbritain.co.uk/community/land-art. The closing date for submissions is Friday 18 August.  

The tradition of creating land art masterpieces along the route has long been the practice at the Tour of Britain, as well as other cycle races around the world.

Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: “Since we launched the national land art competition, we have been blown away by the standard of creations that have lined the route of the Tour. Following in the footsteps of last year’s champions, the truly unforgettable Spike on a Bike installation in Nottinghamshire, will not be easy but we’ve got a good feeling that community groups, organisations, and individuals will find a way to do so!”