Pyramids (Bathgate)
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File:The Pyramids (geograph 2401298).jpg
The Pyramids are a land sculpture alongside the M8 motorway at Bathgate.
Originally named the "Sawtooth Ramps", it was sponsored by Motorola and formed part of the M8 Art Project.{{Cite web|title = Scottish fact of the day: M8 motorway sculptures|url = http://www.scotsman.com/heritage/people-places/scottish-fact-of-the-day-m8-motorway-sculptures-1-3621566|website = www.scotsman.com|accessdate = 2015-11-12}} The sculpture was created by artist Patricia Leighton in 1993. It is {{convert|1000|ft|m}} long and consists of seven {{convert|36|ft|m|adj=on}} high ramps made of earth and seeded with grass. The artist based the design on local geographic features (drumlins) and the shape of the surrounding bings.{{cite web |url=http://www.art-in-partnership.org.uk/cms/index.html?topic_id=43 |title=projects |publisher=Art in Partnership |accessdate=1 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904094806/http://www.art-in-partnership.org.uk/cms/index.html?topic_id=43 |archivedate=4 September 2011 }} Sheep are grazed on the structure which keeps the grass short. The pyramidal shape of the sculpture gave rise to the name of the nearby Pyramids Business Park.
Coloured sheep
File:Purple sheep on the Pyramids, near Bathgate (geograph 2444814).jpg
In April 2007, a local farmer painted the sheep which graze on the grass mounds bright red with a harmless sheep spray.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6521149.stm|title=BBC NEWS: Edinburgh and East - Sheer brilliance for bright sheep | work=BBC News | date=3 April 2007}} Over the years the sheep have been painted different colours to raise awareness of charities: pink for Breast Cancer Research, and purple for World Autism Awareness Month by Scottish Autism in April 2015.{{Cite web|title = Sheep at M8 Pyramids in West Lothian given make over for World Autism Awareness Month|url = http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/sheep-m8-pyramids-west-lothian-5472755|website = dailyrecord|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}
Giant poppies
File:We Shall Remember Them! (geograph 2686048).jpgGiant poppies have been painted on the grass ramps in November for a number of years. This is organised by Poppyscotland as part of the Remembrance Day commemorations and fund-raising.{{Cite web|title = Giant poppies painted alongside busy motorway in honour of Remembrance Day|url = http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/615323/Giant-poppies-busy-motorway-honour-Remembrance-Day|website = Express.co.uk|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}
In 2015, the extremist political group Siol nan Gaidheal painted their white poppy logo on one of the ramps, which was condemned as vandalism and a political stunt by Angela Constance, a local MSP.{{Cite web|title = Anti-English extremist group hijacks famous poppy display on the M8 pyramids|url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/anti-english-extremist-group-hijacks-6814095|website = mirror|accessdate = 2015-11-12}}
References
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