I have made this multi into a circular walk along the redways that line both banks of the canal (it's also ideal to cycle!)
Head South down the east bank of the canal and then return on the other side. Various artworks maybe be visible from both sides, so don't worry if you see things out of sequence!
Start - N 52 03.841 W 000 44.673 - "Autumn Splendour" by Melanie Watts
Melanie has created a mosaic with a white barn owl is the focal point, briefly swooping into the foliage of trees in Great Linford to capture its prey. Each individually cut piece of glass brings the piece together, using soft and delicate colours to capture the delicate autumnal light.
A = Number of red pieces in the mosiac that go to make up the artist's signature (including the dots)
WP1 - N 52 03.819 W 000 44.460 - "Three Post Bench" by Jeremy Turner
The oak posts and the head rail that top them are vehicles for robustly carved relief images that all make reference to the wildlife of the canal. Included in the carving are: Coarse fish; familiar water birds; water beetles; snails; the insect larvae,; floral algae and amoebae.
B = How many bats are carved into the bench (don't forget to check both sides)?
NB: For the next installation you'll need to leave the redway next to the canal briefly and walk along the boardwalk before rejoining it shortly.
WP2 - N 52 03.493 W 000 44.012 - "Arachne Weaves" by Linda Johns
The title refers to the myth of a mortal who was turned into a spider for daring to say her skill at weaving was greater than Athena’s. Linda hopes her sculpture will encourage visitors to look again at spiders, the beauty they create, perhaps story-telling a new myth of the spider which spins stainless steel webs.
C = How many tree trunks support the cobweb?
WP3 - N 52 03.311 W 000 43.999 - "Commemorative plaque" by Justin Tunley
Overlooking the site of the former Gyosei International School, Justin’s sculpture maps the Gyosei Art Trail along the Grand Union Canal using small discs to show other art works. The work also forms a framework for the school’s original foundation stone. Several layers of stainless steel are digitally hewn into laser cut fretworks - the first represents the Canal and the positions of other art works. Sitting above it, a second shows surrounding footpaths in stylised form.
D = The number of numbers on the front of the foundation stone.
This is the Southern most installation on the walk and the walker can either walk a little bit further South and cross over on the road bridge (going past the TB Hotel Waterways cache in the process ) or they can double back to the previous bridge and cross over there.
WP4 - N 52 03.509 W 000 44.140 - "What lies beneath" by Rob Griffiths
This sculpture, using Forest of Dean oak, came from Rob's interest in canals and the creatures that live beneath. It takes the form of a bench with relief carvings illustrating the food chain in the canal and a giant frog sitting peacefully unaware of all that lies beneath.
E = Number of fishes carved into the bench.
WP5 - N52 03.593 W 000 44.279 - "Dragonfly" by Ptolemy Elrington
Ptolemy has transformed redundant and abandoned materials into the light and delicate form of a dragonfly, a symbol of courage, strength, and happiness in Japan. Mounted on a pole, viewed against the sky, with its filigree wings in flight soaring over the canal.
F = The dragonfly's eyes are made from which bit of a shopping trolley? Take the first letter of this word and F is the last digit in its position in the alphabet (e.g. Z=26, so the answer would be 6)
WP6 - N 52 03.667 W 000 44.330 - "Local birds and plants" by Laura Boswell
Laura’s seven enamel panels presenting local birds using a Japanese aesthetic, combine her training in Japanese woodblock and her experience of Japanese art with the practicality of vitreous enamelling. The panels are inspired by birds and plants that visitors to the canal are likely to see around them throughout the year.
G = The number of words in the first 2 lines of the poem on the left most panel.
WP7 - N 52 03.813 W 000 44.521 - "Life-sized shire horse in steel" by Andrew Kay
Andrew has created a powerful Shire Horse whose steady toil propelled the barges of yesteryear along the towpaths of the Grand Union canal. Andrew says he has tried to capture the huge strength and solidity of a Shire, while also suggesting the animals’ calm, resolute approach to the task in hand.
H = How many feet does the horse have on the ground?
The cache can then be found at: N 52 03.[D+C][D-B][A-B-C] W 000 44.[G][F-H][E+E]
NB: Please don't post any pictures that might give away answers to the questions! Thank you!
P.S. if you enjoyed this art trail, you might enoy another one to the North of the city (this one with added Adventure Labs!): https://coord.info/GC8FC3F