Council backs Exmouth Town team’s Jurassic Safari

Officers from East Devon District Council’s StreetScene service have had a busy past few weeks helping find homes for 17 life-sized dinosaur models, previously roaming free in Exmouth.

Nick Christo, East Devon’s StreetScene Area Manager West, is relieved to report that all the prehistoric reptiles are now confined to easily accessible public sites, forming an educational trail throughout the town, ready for an exciting launch event at the Strand on Saturday August 20, 11am to 6pm.

The StreetScene team members have become so attached to one of the dinosaurs – a massive Brachiosaurus, standing over five metres tall – that they decided to adopt him and he is now being officially sponsored by East Devon District Council.

East Devon’s Brachiosauris is number 14 on the Exmouth Town Team dinosaur trail and can be found lurking in the Maer, near the play area. The Brachiosauris was a high browser with a small skull, long neck and long body. It fed mostly on vegetation above the ground and is one of the best known dinosaurs, featuring in Jurassic Park and the Walking with Dinosaurs series.

Councillor Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio holder for the Environment, said: “The backdrop of the Maer provides a very natural setting for the Brachiosaurus and kids will love looking at this giant, imposing dinosaur.  We are very proud to sponsor this dinosaur and to help support Exmouth Town Team in this exciting initiative, which will promote Exmouth as a top Jurassic Coast, World Heritage site.

“I would also like to thank the members of our StreetScene team who have worked hard to ensure the dinosaurs are all in place, ready for the opening event.”

Suzanne Birkett, Town Management Project Officer, Exmouth Town Council, said: “We are all so excited to see the trail coming together. The dinosaurs look fantastic and are generating so much interest for our town. The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Ambassadors have been hugely supportive and together with the local businesses and schools who have adopted the dinosaurs we have much to celebrate at the launch event on Saturday.”