NHS ambulance art installation pulls up in Norfolk Square Gardens

The 1.5 metre long NHS ambulance has appeared at the end of April above Norfolk Square Gardens, the community garden square just off Western Road, Brighton.

The ambulance stands above head height on a part-felled tree overlooking the square

Creator Dave Clapham came up with the concept when the Norfolk Square Group of local residents, which looks after the gardens, recently called for new ideas to feature on the gardens’ art installation site, famous locally for its Grinch at Christmas, Easter Bunny at Easter and, most recently, a life-size Lorax. Using materials partly donated by local residents, Dave built the ambulance in the garage below Embassy Court, with thanks to the caretaker there, and installed it in the garden overnight.

Local resident Lindy Ashton Saltwell – who worked in the ambulance service for five years in the 1980s – created a mosaic sign to go alongside the ambulance. Residents are invited to add love hearts and other mementos to the site, with two hearts already added by local artist Sam Toft.

Dave Clapham said: “We were originally discussing a summer installation, possibly to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. When Covid-19 arrived, it had to be the battle faced by the NHS. I wanted to show appreciation to everyone helping us through these difficult times. It’s hard to come up with one image that would represent all key workers so I focused on the NHS.”

Speaking for the Norfolk Square Group, Damien Magee said: “NHS and other care workers and all frontline workers are doing amazing, courageous work at the moment and we can’t thank them enough. We take that seriously around here – our Thursday Claps for the NHS are loud and enthusiastic affairs, and have been known to include socially distanced discos and dancing in the street, safely of course. So we wanted a more solid reminder of frontline heroism as our garden’s latest art installation: something that would make us think of them every time any of us walked through Norfolk Square Gardens. Dave Clapham’s amazing ambulance does the job perfectly.”

The ambulance will remain on show for the coming months. Norfolk Square Gardens are freely open to be enjoyed by everyone who practices safe social distancing.

The Norfolk Square Group is run by residents, neighbours and users of Norfolk Square Gardens. In the years since the group’s formation, it has raised funds through events, crowdfunding and grants, and used the income, together with the valuable skills and time of residents, to improve the square considerably, particularly through the planting and regular community gardening that have transformed what was once one of Brighton and Hove’s most run-down and neglected garden squares.

Art installations have been featured on the eastern side of the gardens since an ageing elm tree was part-felled because of fatal disease about three years ago. The remaining trunk has since served as a home for a variety of artworks and larger than life characters, including the Grinch who stole Christmas, a highly distinctive Easter Bunny and a life-size Lorax.

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