A Perthshire farmer has carved an image of Scottish rugby great Doddie Weir into his field in a bid to raise £10,000 for charity.
A 1.5km-long path has been cut through crops in the shape of the sporting hero on Gloagburn Farm in Tibbermore.
Its design and concept is the brainchild of Crawford Niven, who works on the farm with his father, Ian.
The outline depicts Weir being held aloft by teammates during a line out as he attempts to claim the ball.
Image of Doddie Weir cut into field of rye grass
Now visitors will be able to take a 20-minute stroll along the outline cut into five foot-high rye grass.
The aim is to raise £10,000 in support of the MND Scotland charity and the late rugby union star’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
Weir was capped 61 times for Scotland and was one of rugby’s most recognisable stars.
He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2016.
The rare condition progressively damages parts of the nervous system, which leads to muscle weakness, often with visible wasting.
Despite his illness, his foundation raised around £8m before Weir finally lost his fight, passing away in 2022 at the age of 52.
Speaking of the new farm fixture, Crawford said: “We have drawn a 1,500 metre image of Doddie Weir into our field or rye.
“Doddie Weir was a giant of a man, not only in height but also in character and was brought up on a farm in the borders.”
“This idea was thought up about a year ago to try to do something for a fellow farmer and for a fellow Scotsman.
“So we came up with the image of Doddie being hoisted up like a ‘mad giraffe’ as (commentator) Bill McLaren used to say.
“Unfortunately, between now and then Doddie passed away after six years with the disease.
“The free Doddie walk opens on June 5 and we ask only two things – that people book a ticket online and that they make a donation either to the charity or here in an honesty box.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to raise a few quid.”
How to get tickets for field walk
Visitors will be able to access the walk from June 5 at Gloagburn Farm, Tibbermore, Perth. PH1 1QL.
Free tickets for the walk can be booked online.
Crawford also has a YouTube channel in which he documents the process of creating his latest charity initiative.
Crawford’s handy work hit the headlines in 2022 when he made a walking route through the seasonal crop carved in the shape of a map of Scotland.
The creation proved hugely popular, attracting thousands of visitors.
