Hairy Highland Coo Trail - Launch

The launch event took place at Scone Palace to mark the opening of the much-anticipated trail. The venue's peacock-themed coo, aptly entitled 'PeaCOOck' was unveiled to invited guests before they were all invited to board a Stagecoach bus to visit other coos along the trail.

It is hoped that the venture, which is being run in partnership with Wild in Art and Perth and Kinross Council, will contribute to the social, cultural and economic growth of Perth and Kinross by attracting visitors, showcasing the beauty of the region far and wide and raising funds for the charity at the same time.

Each coo, which has been designed and painted by individual artists, and sponsored by a local business, has been thoughtfully placed in streets, parks and public spaces across Perth and Kinross.

Some of the coo names include Highland Toffee, Iron Coo, Tartan Army Coo and Saltire Scotland Coo.

The Saltire Scotland Coo is sponsored by Motability Operations, the company which delivers the Motability Scheme to over 760,000 disabled people and their families, helping them access independent mobility.

Gavin Thomson, Managing Director Scotland, at Motability Operations said: "We are proud to be sponsoring one of the Hairy Highland Coo sculptures this year, so we can support CHAS in their vital work with children facing life-shortening conditions across Scotland. Our Saltire Scotland coo has found a perfect home in the picturesque town of Dunkeld. Crafted by the talented artist Jan Laird, our coo has really captured the imaginations of our team at Motability Operations and we have affectionately given it the nickname 'Moo Billy T'.

"This sponsorship reflects our commitment to our community, reinforcing our dedication to giving back and promoting social good. We encourage everyone to have fun this summer, download the trail app and explore all the vibrant and accessible coos on this inspiring art trail."

As well as the 30 large coos, there are also 20 mini-coos forming part of a 'Wee Coo Trail', all of which have been painted by local schools, nurseries and community groups. These smaller sculptures will be positioned at various indoor locations across Perth City Centre.

The trail will run from now until 6 September 2024 after which time the sculptures will be sold at an auction at Scone Palace.

Hairy Highland Coo Trail Project Manager, Hayley Smith from CHAS said: "After many months of careful planning and collaboration with our artists, sponsors and other stakeholders, we are incredibly excited that our Hairy Highland Coo Trail is now open for all to experience and enjoy.

"We have a Hairy Highland Coo Trail app to help people navigate the trail which is available to download via IOS and Google Play.

"This is the first sculpture trail to focus solely on Perth and Kinross and we're sure our colourful coos will not only inspire local people but will also bring tourists to the area, all while raising significant funds for CHAS at the same time. We hope to raise around £100,000 through this exciting project to continue supporting children with life-shortening conditions and their families right across Scotland.

"I would like to thank all our talented artists, generous sponsors and dedicated stakeholders for their incredible support and look forward to welcoming people to the trail and seeing everyone's wonderful photographs on social media over the coming weeks."

Perth and Kinross Provost Xander McDade also welcomed the opening of the trail, commenting: "The Hairy Highland Coo trail will be a wonderful event and a fantastic incentive for people to explore Perth and Kinross. I am sure the trail will be enormously popular this summer and look forward to seeing all the sculptures in place." Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-founder Wild in Art said: "Wild in Art passionately champions the importance of art and being creative for everyone and it's wonderful to see the Highland Coos showcasing such a wealth of artistic talent.

"Exploring the trail is a fun, outdoor activity to do with friends and family and it's a great opportunity to discover the local area, while finding out more about the important work of CHAS. I hope everyone will enjoy discovering the Coos."

For further updates on the trail visit the official website: hairyhighlandcootrail.co.uk.