From next Monday, 21st August, an eight-foot sculpture of a giraffe will be on display outside East Croydon train station as part of a new art trail throughout Croydon town centre.

The giraffe was designed by Arron Bevan and is part of the Croydon Stands Tall trail. One of the trail’s sponsors is Southern Rail, which working with Wild in Art and Croydon Business Improvement District (BID).

Arron’s sculpture, titled Hues of Surrey Street, will be located in Ruskin Square opposite the railway station. It has a colourful pattern, and wrapped around its neck is the recognisable image of a Croydon tram. Arron is based in Croydon and said his design is meant to reflect the hustle and bustle of Surrey Street Market which he was captivated by as a child and often visits now.

As well as the giraffe, there are 29 other animals on the trail, each one decorated by an artist and sponsored by a local business, and will be displayed on Croydon’s streets for the next ten weeks.

Croydon Stands Tall is one of 14 events Croydon is hosting as the London Borough of Culture. It was launched by Croydon Business Improvement District (BID) in collaboration with Wild in Art and is designed to attract visitors to the borough to take part in an event that’s perfect for families and friends.

A second trail has been created by school children from across the borough, who have created and painted 30 four-foot giraffes that are on display in several indoor venues throughout the town.

The trail ends on Friday, 27th October, after which a charity auction will be held to raise £100,000 for national homelessness charity, Crisis, and its Skylight Centre in Croydon. The auction will help Crisis to deliver one-to-one support, advice and courses for the homeless or those at risk of becoming homeless across the borough.

Sophie Finn, Area Station Manager for Southern Rail, said: “We’re excited to have this unique and free experience on our network. We’re hoping that families across London and beyond travel to Croydon to take part in the new art trail.

“Travelling by train is a great way to get here and one of the giraffes can be found just a stone’s throw away from East Croydon station. Make sure you visit the quirky sculpture in Ruskin Square as part of the London Borough of Culture celebrations.”

Matthew Sims, Chief Executive at Croydon Business Improvement District (BID), said: “This free event will unite our community, inviting everyone in Croydon—residents, workers, and visitors—to partake in the joy and celebration of our exceptional town on a massive scale.

“As well as creating a fun experience for all this summer, we are fundraising for Crisis Skylight Croydon who are working hard to eliminate homelessness in our community at a time of great need.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Southern Rail who have, right from the start, shown their passion for Croydon, our people and the simple need to give back to our community.”

Tarron Pearson, Operations Manager at Crisis Skylight Croydon, said: “We’re really excited to see the trail launch this summer and to welcome all of the giraffes, and the amazing artwork, to Croydon. We’re really honoured, here at Crisis, to be the charity partner for such a unique event in Croydon.

“The auction at the end will help us to continue our work, supporting people across the borough who are facing the devastating reality of homelessness to rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind for good.”