What a belter: One-tonne wicker bull sculpture arrives in Edinburgh for Royal Highland Showcase

A one-tonne wicker bull has arrived in Edinburgh where it will be a centrepiece of this week’s Royal Highland Showcase.

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The hand sculpted Beltie bull was made by willow artist Trevor Leat, known for his figures featured in Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, the Wickerman music festivals and a variety of National Trust for Scotland properties.

It measures 3m tall and 4.2m long and took three weeks to build using willow grown by Trevor in Scotland.

One-tonne wicker Beltie bull arrives in Edinburgh for Royal Highland Showcase PIC: Colin Hattersley

Nearby, the famous underpass where the finest livestock are led in and out of the Ingliston showground arena, has been painted with a mural depicting farm animals, wildlife, horses and scenes from south-west Scotland.

The Royal Highland Showcase in partnership with Royal Bank of Scotland, runs until June 20, and replaces the annual Royal Highland Show which can’t go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Its all taking place behind closed doors but is being livestreamed for free worldwide and by this afternoon more than 10,000 people logged on to watch live streaming of the opening.

Farmers are showing their livestock, but with the event being streamed online to people around the world.

In normal times, up to 190,000 people would visit the agricultural show over the week. It runs online until Sunday.

Bill Gray, chairman of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, said although members of the public would not be allowed in this year, farmers would still be showing their animals online.

Martin Kennedy, president of the National Farmers Union Scotland, said the event was important for the farming community.

Each year the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) invites a different region to act as “host”, highlighting the best of its rural economy. This year it’s the turn of Dumfries and Galloway which prides itself on its thriving creative community.

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Trevor, who is based in a small village workshop in Auchencairn, Kirkcudbrightshire, said: “What I wanted to capture was the character of these truly iconic cattle – the strength, muscle, power and energy of the bull – but also something of the spirit of the Galloway hills where the Belted Galloway are bred and which are their homes.”

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