Today (27th April) lights illuminating The DunBear sculpture in Dunbar will alternate between blue and white to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Dunbar.
The battle, which took place on this day in 1296, marked a decisive English victory in the First War of Scottish Independence. King Edward I of England had invaded Scotland in that year to punish King John Balliol for his refusal to support English military action in France.
Lit up between c. 8.30pm and 12.30am, the lights are solar-powered.
The five-metre-high sculpture of a brown bear, created by Scottish sculptor Andy Scott also responsible for creating The Kelpies), was erected in 2019. It forms the centrepiece of the proposed DunBear Park mixed-use development, located beside the A1 at Dunbar.
The bear was erected as a tribute to John Muir, the Dunbar-born naturalist and conservationist, who emigrated to the USA with his family.
He travelled extensively throughout the country, later helping to form the Sierra Club which has gone on to be one of the largest environmental organisations in the world.
The bear was most recently (21st April) similarly illuminated to mark the birth of John Muir and before that in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag. It is also lit-up at other various points throughout the year, including Remembrance Day (when it is illuminated red) and St Andrew’s Day (blue and white).
John Muir petitioned the President and Congress to create National Parks and through this Yosemite and other National Parks were eventually established.
Ken Ross from Hallhill Developments Limited commented:
“Being in such a prominent position at the gateway to Dunbar, the stunning DunBear sculpture provides the perfect opportunity to commemorate key events such as the Battle of Dunbar.
“The DunBear has become a much-loved piece of public art, drawing visitors to the area and into Dunbar itself, bringing with it considerable economic benefits to the town.”