Science meets art on Colliers Way
The fascinating complexity of the human genome forms the basis of a
colourful new art work between Radstock and Kilmersdon on the
Colliers Way cycle and walking path.
Stripes of special thermoplastic material in green, blue, yellow
and orange, representing each of the different proteins which make
up the human genome, have been heat-fixed across half the width of
the path, by Sustrans, the UK's leading sustainable transport
charity.
It has been inspired by the work of Nobel prize winner Sir John
Sulston. - the man who mapped the human genome and long-time
supporter of Sustrans who officially opened the 10,000th mile of
the National Cycle Network.
To represent the whole of the human genome would require
3,000,000,000 stripes, far too many to be practical, so one gene
was chosen – BRCA2: “It is essential to human
development from the earliest stages of life because it is needed
for cells to divide properly,” said Sir John.
Katy Hallett, Sustrans' director of Art & The Travelling
Landscape, said: “The stripes have been placed to one side of
the path giving people the option of cycling or walking over it, or
travelling alongside it. This will form a striking work of art
which represents part of what actually makes us who we
are.”
Link to 'Sustrans, Click Here.
The cache is close to this artwork, as you get to the cache take
care not to go to far as the slope get a lot steeper quickly. It a
camo painted 'Lock n Seal' tub.
Be gentle/constructive with your comments of this cache
placement.... It's my first. ;-)
Parking near the Joliffe Arms pub N51 16.204 W002 26.269
Follow signs for route 24 (Colliers Way) on to the cycle path. All
tarmac apart from the last 10' at the cache. Round trip less than
1.5 miles.
There is a nice series developing along Colliers Way in the local
area, take a look at these;
Please make sure you re-hide well (cover with leaf
litter/branches etc) as it could be seen from the path. Lots of
muggles around too..