As part of Marwell Wildlife’s Go! Rhinos event, Southampton will be the home to a herd of sponsored rhinos. The stampede of full size and baby rhinos will be placed at various locations across the city to form a rhino trail, and Ordnance Survey has put the horned visitors on the map.
As well as sponsoring one of the rhinos on the trail, Ordnance Survey has produced the mapping for the official guide and folding trail map – an essential tool to navigate the Go! Rhinos trail through Southampton city centre this summer. Using OS OpenSpace, the organisation has also created an online Go! Rhinos map, so that visitors can have a look at the locations and plan their route in advance.
OS OpenSpace is Ordnance Survey’s free web map API facility, which enables users to add quality mapping data, quickly and easily, to their own websites. The OS OpenSpace service provides free access to a range of Ordnance Survey mapping, including street-level mapping with OS Street View. Covering cities and rural areas, the services allows users to access accurate location-based information for online applications.
The printers who produce Ordnance Survey maps, Butler Tanner & Dennis, have also generously offered their support to Marwell Wildlife’s Go! Rhinos campaign by printing 35,000 copies of the official Southampton trail map.
Similar sculpture trail events in other locations have proven to be extremely popular, providing an eye-catching and fun way to explore the area. Elaine Owen, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Ordnance Survey said: “We are proud to support the Go! Rhinos campaign, which will benefit both local charities, and other worthy causes further afield. The rhino trail in Southampton will provide an eye-catching outdoors experience. As well as encouraging local families to explore the city, and perhaps see it in a different light, it will no doubt attract a multitude of visitors to the area too. We hope people enjoy using the trail map, printed or online, to find the location of Ordnance Survey’s rhino sculpture first!”
As well as providing the opportunity to showcase local artistic talent, the event encourages outdoors exploration, and raises awareness about key conservation work, whilst raising significant funds for local charities. Each rhinos has been decorated in a unique design by local professional artists – part of the fun will be following the trail and choosing your favourite rhino!
The Go! Rhinos trail will be in Southampton between 13 July and 22 September 2013. After the event, each rhino sculpture will be sold at auction, with the net proceeds being donated to the designated charities.
Visit the OS OpenSpace map of the Go! Rhinos trail: http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/demos/rhinos/
