A prominent 56-foot dragon sculpture, intended as a welcoming landmark for drivers entering Wales, has disappeared from view less than two decades after its installation due to overgrown vegetation. The white dragon, situated on the A494 near Shotwick on the Wales-England border, was installed in 2009 as part of a larger project.
The sculpture, made from 400 meters of steel edging and filled with 10 tonnes of white marble pebbles, was inspired by the historic white horse carvings found in the Wiltshire hills. However, unlike the Wiltshire figures which have been maintained, the Welsh dragon has been engulfed by grass and shrubs, rendering it invisible to motorists.
A white lion sculpture on the opposite side of the road, also part of the gateway scheme, has suffered a similar fate, now largely obscured by dense grass and shrubbery.
Responsibility for the maintenance of these artworks lies with Highways England, as they are located just across the border from England. In late 2013, following public complaints about their appearance, National Highways committed to addressing the issue. However, a subsequent review noted that the artworks had not received recent maintenance to ensure their visibility and definition.
A spokesperson for National Highways acknowledged the importance of the artworks as local landmarks and stated that weeding and vegetation clearance would be carried out as part of their seasonal maintenance program. The spokesperson pledged that the white dragon would reappear soon.
The dragon sculpture had previously faced controversy due to its white color, rather than the traditional red associated with Welsh symbolism, and for initially pointing towards England instead of Wales. The artwork was part of a £61 million gateway project, with the dragon sculpture itself costing approximately £20,000.