City's toad invasion could be here to stay after 'incredibly positive' response
They have won approval from young and old alike since hopping onto Hull's streets just days ago.
The 40 model toads, marking the 25th anniversary of the death of former University Of Hull librarian and poet Philip Larkin, have become popular additions all over the city.
-
The Space Hopper toad outside Paragon Interchange
Now, such has been the positive reaction, calls are being made to make the distinctive fibreglass amphibians a permanent feature in Hull, rather than removing them after ten weeks as planned.
Larkin With Toads project manager Clare Huby said: "The reaction has been incredibly positive, almost overwhelming.
"Grandparents and mums and dads think it's a great thing to bring children to come see them and people are just blown away by them.
"Should the council turn around and say they would like to keep them, then we would look at that.
"Unfortunately, as a company, we're not in a position to take care of them. It is certainly a discussion to be had.
Slideshow: All 40 toads pictured in their colourful splendour.
MORE ON THIS STORY: Results of our poll - do you like the Larkin toads?
"We're are also looking at fostering schemes where individuals and schools can pay to keep them in their premises."
Larkin featured toads in some of his most famous works and each of the model creatures – complete with unique markings and colour schemes – has been sponsored by firms and other community organisations.
At the moment, it is intended to auction the toads for charity after their ten-week stay and Hull City Council has made no commitment over the future of the models.
But shoppers and visitors to Hull city centre have called for the toads, which were installed last week, to remain where they are.
Mark Curds, 37, of Boothferry Road, west Hull, said: "They should keep them because they look colourful and the kids like them as well.
"Hull is the only place that's got them and it gives us something different to boast about."
Shadan Habib, 20, a social care student at the University Of Hull, said it would be sad to see them go after just ten weeks.
"I think they're really cool," she said. "They're my mum's favourite attraction at the moment."
Slideshow: All 40 toads pictured in their colourful splendour.
MORE ON THIS STORY: Results of our poll - do you like the Larkin toads?
Have your say: Comment on this article below, or you can email us and have your letter published in the Mail
66 Comments
View all
by John M, Hull
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 12:32PM
“These toads are hideous”
by Eloina Fontana, The Dukeries, Hull
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 7:54AM
“Over 30 000 Larkin's Toad Maps have been picked up already!!!!
Speaks volumes!!!!
I love Hull.... is that so very wrong????
I love the Toads too, and while a I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their own view, I'm getting a feel of utter ignorance in several of the negative comments!
Long live Larkin's Toads!
Peace Out!”
by Dee, Hull
Monday, July 26 2010, 10:03PM
“The Toads are one of the best things to come from Hull ever. I think it's right that they ended up being sponsored, rather than being paid for by the tax payer, but now they're here they should STAY. Loads of people initially complained about Antony Gormley's Another Place at Crosby, and it was due to be moved in November 2006. Yet I finally travelled to Liverpool to see it last month and it was amazing. The Lambananas were fab too! Don't criticise what you don't understand people, if public art isn't for you then each to their own, but quit the narrow-minded apathy and let us, who really love these toads - and the people who've visited Hull and found them fantastic too, keep them public - not in schools and enclosed sites where visitors cannot enjoy them. One of the best things about them has been seeing families and children interact with them, let's keep it that way. I'm another one who's made a photography project out of them, and am think there's loads of educational projects that could be linked to them e.g art, photography, history etc. How about, leave them a year and see how they fair? I know there's a group of volunteers who are already going around cleaning off the tags that have already occurred. How about setting up a Facebook group for others who'd like to help in the care of them to join and do what they can? Other cities have such pieces, why should Hull stay in the dark ages just because of the negative attitudes of a few grumpy old men? Long live the Toads! :)”
by brianrouth, Hull
Monday, July 26 2010, 8:30PM
“What's the point of public art in a place like Hull? People here are about at the level of intelligence of neanderthal man...and anything interesting or beautiful on public display is bound to be defaced or destroyed by the moronic populace of this city......it's hard to believe that the likes of Larkin and Tom Courtney could even come from a place such as this....they must have been some freak of nature here....”
by Brian Routh, Hull
Monday, July 26 2010, 8:29PM
“What's the point of public art in a place like Hull? People here are about at the level of intelligence of neanderthal man...and anything interesting or beautiful on public display is bound to be defaced or destroyed by the moronic populace of this city......it's hard to believe that the likes of Larkin and Tom Courtney could even come from a place such as this....they must have been some freak of nature here.....I hate this city.”
by Joe, Hull
Thursday, July 22 2010, 9:42AM
“To all of you complaining about 'money could be spent elsewhere!'. the council apparently pulled their funding for this and was paid through sponsors. Do you not think it's nice for Hull to have something unusual in the city rather than being the backwards city we always have been. It's interesting and eventually if we carry on doing creative things like this we could finally get some kind of a culture going within the creative industry like shoreditch in London etc.”
by Fredicent, VictoriaAvenue
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 10:26PM
“Who paid for these ugly things? In these trying times the money could have been spent on sprucing up the statues on the Avenues.Perhaps by erecting gates to keep the riff raff out”
by MancunianHumbersider, Manchester (England's True Second City)
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 2:00PM
“And my verdict? I love them! I was not sure what to expect when I first read about them, but they look great. I remember the Cow Parade in Manchester in 2004 and that had a similar effect to this. On the vandalism front, a "Cow Hospital" was set up for damaged cows that suffered the same fate as those poor toads. I seem to recall that Cow Parade generated much the same difference of opinion in Manchester but the same effect once the cows hit the streets and the public really took to them. They were auctioned off for charity. Cow Parade is still going strong today and is a truly global event. What a wonderful way to build international relationships!
http://www.cowparade.com/”
by Charlie, watching
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 1:55PM
“I think its disgusting and a waste of money. The money could have been used for heating old people.
We managed to get rid of the screen in the middle of hull and we should get rid of these eyesores too!
What is the place coming to , if were not careful we will have outsiders coming into our city and using our amenities, that is not on.
Get rid of all the so called attractions now and keep hull and it's population children.”
by A. Cliche, Toad Hall
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 8:27AM
“Charles Cott, I do apologise for thinking you were Charlie Treehugger. You're right, Charles is a common name.
Is everyone called Charles a moaning "Busy body?"I suppose thats where the old cliche of being a "right Charlie" comes from.
It still doesn't give you the right to "stick your nose in where it's not wanted". If you employed a bit of "Blue sky thinking" then you would embrace this" Ah well..."C'est-La-Vie" "no point in crying over spilt milk."”