“We are so pleased with the work Agrumi did!”
- Steve Hewlett, Manager, ‘Retail Birmingham’
Dippy, the Natural History Museum's iconic Diplodocus cast has been touring the UK on a natural history adventure. He’s been visiting some of this country’s incredible natural history collections and will be at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery until 9 September 2018.
A few months ago Retail Birmingham – which promotes and supports businesses in the city centre - got in touch. Dippy’s forthcoming visit provided an ideal opportunity for some dinosaur-related PR to promote their fantastic local shops and restaurants.
We were commissioned to create five 2m x 1m topiary animals to be displayed in bespoke planters sourced and planted by the local parks team. The installations would be exhibited in key central locations and provide focal points of interest for the museum, Dippy’s tour and Birmingham’s commercial sector.
Using the Natural History Museum’s own ‘top 5’ list of their visitors’ favourite dinosaurs we made a Stegosaurus, Tyrannosauras, Diplodicus, Coelophysis and Triceratops. Retail Birmingham told us that the pieces needed to be weather and vandal-proof as well as fire retardant. Artificial boxwood is an ideal choice for this situation and the product we use is both lifelike and robust.
“Great to see the dinosaurs arrives today – they look really good!”
“We’ve started to put the dinosaurs out and already had a great reaction!”
The photos speak for themselves and the public reaction was so positive that a ‘Retail Birmingham’ immediately ordered an extra T-Rex and Stegosaurus. Shortly afterwards three more animals were commissioned – an Allosaurus, Velociraptor and Brachiosaurus.
Delighted with the commission Retail Birmingham just launched a film about the project in time for the summer holidays. Watch it here:
Birmingham's had an owl trail, a bear trail, and now it's getting a dinosaur topiary trail. @retailbid is placing 10 around the city and asking people to share selfies with all 10 using hashtag #DippyOnTour and tagging @ShoppingInBham in a multiple-image Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/7LUBL2YqFv
— BBC Midlands Today (@bbcmtd) June 4, 2018
Great to see families enjoying the Big In The City Dino Trail on this fine sunny day in Birmingham city centre. #DippyOnTour pic.twitter.com/VAGofzpu2M
— Retail BID (@retailbid) August 30, 2018
#DippyonTour @retailbid my children where super happy to see dippy, Jack was telling us the name of the dinos on the trail #happymemories pic.twitter.com/iGCTbMlDAb
— Bryan Edwards (@Bryandedwards77) August 19, 2018
Our dinosaurs have returned from their weekend break! Don't forget to take a selfie with all 10 and tag us on Instagram using the hashtag #DippyOnTour to be entered into our £500 shopping vouchers competition. If you're a retailer that needs more trail maps in store, let us know! pic.twitter.com/LBxDKyY2HQ
— Retail BID (@retailbid) July 16, 2018
What fantastic weather, a perfect day to do the @retailbid Big in the City dino trail! And remember you have a chance to win £500 worth of shopping vouchers in the @ShoppingInBham comp for your dino-selfies! Find out more & download the map https://t.co/5RaD82GVLy #dippyontour pic.twitter.com/SmMIbelwpw
— Birmingham Museums (@BM_AG) June 26, 2018
Ok I think this is all 10 seen over the last 2 weeks! #DippyonTour @ShoppingInBham @retailbid pic.twitter.com/gruukvrihb
— Elliott Brown (@ellrbrown) June 13, 2018
A lovely day in Birmingham. So much going on all for free. We visited #DippyonTour @BM_AG we went dinosaur hunting around Birmingham with @retailbid and sat on deck chairs eating our lunch @BhamDanceFest. Well done Brum 👏#welovebrum #birmingham #WestMidlands #free #familyfun pic.twitter.com/KP3AM0HR7b
— Family fun in Brum (@Familyfuninbham) June 8, 2018
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Hedging my bets to discover dinosaurs before they become extinct. #dippyontour @shoppinginbham
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Thought this was so cool!! #nofilter #dippyontour #dippyontourbirmingham #trex
If you’re looking for topiary dinosaurs or need something to spruce up your high street then contact us today!