‘Coccolith’ By INSTAR

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North Downs Way Art Trail tags

Start postcode: TN16 2JT
Town: Otford
District: Sevenoaks
Area: Surrey Hills AONB

How to get there

Section: 5 – Oxted to Otford
Nearest postcode: TN16 2JT
What 3 words: ///taken.juices.simple
Where to start? North Downs Way opposite Clarks Lane Farm, Tatsfield, TN16 2JT
What to expect: Rolling hills, valleys, woodland and farmland trails

Full route: This sculpture is on section 5 of the North Downs Way from Oxted to Otford 12 miles (19km) for more details, visit the North Downs Way website.

In a hurry?

It’s just 0.9 miles from Oxted Train Station.

Take your time…

Bordering between Kent and Surrey there’s plenty to experience close by in both counties, Titsey Place in Oxted, is a must see, an impressive manor house with beautiful gardens set in the stunning countryside of the North Downs or explore the ancient heathland and woodland of Limpsfield Common.

Make a day of it

Eat & drink: Titsey Estate & Tea Rooms, Botley Hill Farmhouse, the Estate Deli at Squerryes Wine and the new Titsey Brewery brewhouse and taproom.
Explore: Emmett’s National Trust Garden which was featured in the film “A Room with a View”, wine tasting at Gaysham Vineyard (Squerryes Wine Estate) and the charming town of Oxted with its beautiful Tudor-style timber-framed buildings and surrounding scenic countryside.
Travelling with Mini-Explorers? Create your own ancient creature inspired by the designs on the seats of the Coccolith.

The story behind the sculpture

Inspired by the very creatures that, 65 million years ago, formed the foundations of the North Downs Way, ‘Coccolith’ invites visitors to take a seat and immerse themselves in this rolling and quintessential landscape. This ‘Inspiring views’ commission, is built using traditional dry-stone wall techniques, using a hand-picked selection of local ironstone rock excavated from the Titsey Estate along with ‘clunch’ chalk. In ‘the round’ a set of 5 cantilever stone style seats provide the perfect spot to take the weight off and absorb the valley and ‘Inspiring Views’, offering a restful, connecting and playful engagement en route to the next destination. The seats are engraved with the words ‘BUILT UPON TIME AND TIDE’.

About the artists

Artists Trish Evans and Nick Humphrey produce multi-disciplinary artwork inspired by the natural world, from the oceans to the uplands, the urban to the rural. Their portfolio includes commissioned public art, exhibition design, installation, engagement and creative interpretation. Working collaboratively, their partners have included The National Trust, National Forest and The Wildlife Trusts.