Pyramids (Bathgate)

Pyramids land sculptures on the M8 at Bathgate

The Pyramids are a land sculpture alongside the M8 motorway at Bathgate.

Originally named the "Sawtooth Ramps" it was sponsored by Motorola and formed part of the M8 Art Project.[1] The sculpture was created by artist Patricia Leighton in 1993. It is 1,000 feet (300 m) long and consists of seven 36-foot (11 m) high ramps made of earth and seeded with grass. The artist based the design on local geographic features (drumlins) and the shape of the surrounding bings.[2] Sheep are grazed on the structure which keeps the grass short. The pyramidal shape of the sculpture gave rise to the name of the nearby Pyramids Business Park.[1]

Coloured sheep

Purple sheep on the Pyramids at Bathgate

In April 2007, a local farmer painted the sheep which graze on the grass mounds bright red with a harmless sheep spray.[3] Over the years the sheep have been painted different colours to raise of charities: pink for Breast Cancer Research, purple for World Autism Awareness Month by Scottish Autism in April 2015.[4]

Giant poppies

Red poppies on the Pyramids at Bathgate

Giant poppies have been painted on the grass ramps in November for a number of years. This is organised by Poppyscotland as part of the Remembrance Day commemorations and fund-raising.[5] In 2015, the extremist political group Siol nan Gaidheal painted their white poppy logo on one of the ramps, which was condemned as vandalism and a political stunt by Angela Constance, a local MSP.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Scottish fact of the day: M8 motorway sculptures". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  2. ↑ "projects". Art in Partnership. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "BBC NEWS: Edinburgh and East - Sheer brilliance for bright sheep". BBC News. 3 April 2007.
  4. ↑ "Sheep at M8 Pyramids in West Lothian given make over for World Autism Awareness Month". dailyrecord. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  5. ↑ "Giant poppies painted alongside busy motorway in honour of Remembrance Day". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Anti-English extremist group hijacks famous poppy display on the M8 pyramids". mirror. Retrieved 2015-11-12.

Coordinates: 55°53′28″N 3°36′17″W / 55.8911°N 3.6048°W / 55.8911; -3.6048

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