ANYONE walking close to York’s landmark buildings and places over the last few days may have caught sight of giant man-made ‘jewel-like’ winged insects.

Seventeen Tansy beetle sculptures have been displayed along a ‘York Trailblazers’ sculpture trail, running from August 1 to September 30.

Each have been designed to show the legacy of the ‘trailblazer’ they have adopted.

The project was established by Make it York and York Civic Trust and has involved community groups, schoolchildren, and 15 artists.

The journey, and the work, along the trail pays tribute at each point to some unsung heroes who have helped to mould York’s history, including Anne Lister, WH Auden, Michael Rowntree and Delma Tomlin.

The tansy beetle is about the size of one quarter of a 1p coinThe tansy beetle is about the size of one quarter of a 1p coin (Image: Carys Tew)

The Wildlife Trusts say the life-size Tansy Beetle measures up to one centimetre in length and is incredibly scarce.

The Species Recovery Trust said the tansy is an iridescent green leaf beetle that is affectionately known as the 'Jewel of York'.

It has been chosen as an emblem of the project because the species lives on the banks of the River Ouse.