VISITORS at the Great Yorkshire Show can see a new eye-catching attraction take shape as they walk through one of the gates to the 250-acre site.

Sculptor Johnny Clasper, a member of the Yorkshire Dry Stone Walling Guild, has been commissioned to create a 10m long dry stone wall made from Yorkshire limestone, and is being helped by members of the Yorkshire Dry Stone Walling Association and volunteers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

The Crimple Valley Oracle is a far cry from a traditional dry stone wall – when complete it will be 1.5m at its highest point with a 600m viewing ‘eye’.

The project was the idea of show director Bill Cowling, who is also president of the guild, and guild director Dave Purvis.

Mr Cowling said: “Dry stone walling is such a crucial, traditional skill, and it is important that we showcase it to our visitors.

“Yorkshire has thousands of miles of dry stone walls, and although this project is far from traditional, it demonstrates the creativity and imagination of the wallers.”

Mr Clasper said: “I am inspired by nature. Stone is a natural material and I try to make my work look as though it is grown from the earth and is organic.

“I wanted to push the boundaries of dry stone walling as far as I could and combine this with modern creativity.”