Meet the 32ft tall dinosuar we built in our South Ribble garden for the grandkids
Take a look at the 32 foot tall dinosaur we built in our South Ribble back garden for our five grandchildren.
Much Hoole residents Alan and Monica Taylor, who have been married for 51 years, have a rather unsual ornament in their garden at the moment, a huge dinosaur!
The couple, aged 75 and 73 respectively, have built an impressive 32 feet, six inch long dinosaur which weighs two and a half tons and far towers over their 14 feet tall greenhouse.
Named Bertha, she is built from marine plywood, sand and cement with scaffolding poles to keep her in place whilst her fearsome looking teeth are made from broom handles.
Explaining why they started to build the dinosaur, part time water treatment engineer Alan told the Post: “It was during Covid, when we couldn’t go out.
“Our grandchildren have always loved dinosaurs so I thought I would spend the time making one for them to enjoy.”
Alan and Monica, who have two children and five grandchildren, completed the head during lockdown and then sporadically worked on finishing the body over the next few years.
It was only when their local Reverand, Ann Templeman of St Michael’s and All Angels Church Hoole, spotted the dinosaur in May and asked if she could use it for a church event called ‘Jurrasic Church’ that the couple got the motivation to complete the dinosaur fully, with Alan sorting the finishing touches just last week.
Alan added: “The grandchildren all think it is marvellous, so did all 40 children who attended Jurrasic Church on Sunday.
“We also have a fairy glen with 42 creatures right next to it, which goes through the wood and Ann called it the Jurassic Trail. We have loads of daft things in their like a four foot high spider, a crocodile, vampire bats, a 10 foot snake - it’s all to amuse the children.”
When asked if he had any plans to add to the Jurrasic World in his own garden, Alan said: “I thought I’d make Bertha some eggs but I haven’t figured out what size and shape they were yet!
“I am also building a medieval cloister on the other side of the garden which will be ready in two or three years but people keep asking me if it’s a giant pizza oven I’m building!”
Rev Anne Templeman added: “Jurrrasic Church was a huge success! 55 adults and 40 children made it to Alan’s house on Sunday to visit the 32 foot Tyrannosaurus which was named Bertha by the children. The children then had to classify the fairy glen characters into ‘real now’, ‘real a long time ago’ and ‘never real’. We then thought and sang about God's amazing world.
“Jurassic Church is then just the latest in our popular monthly interactive themed family services which also include Gladiators Church, Hogwarts Church, Star Wars church, Grandparents Church and Pancake Church.
“Why not join us for Pyjama Church in the Venue, Huch Hoole 20th October at 3.45pm!”