As the countdown continues to Dippy the dinosaur’s visit to Norwich Cathedral this summer, more details are now being revealed for what visitors can expect from the exhibition.
Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s iconic Diplodocus cast, will be taking up residence in the Cathedral’s Nave in July, and the Dippy on Tour exhibition will run from Tuesday 13 July 2021 until Saturday 30 October 2021.
Dinosaur fans eager to know what to expect from Dippy’s visit can now find out more on this new Dippy microsite which is linked to the Cathedral’s own website cathedral.org.uk.
Throughout Dippy’s stay in Norwich, the Dippy microsite will be continually updated with all the latest news about Dippy’s visit and people are being encouraged to check the website for the most up to date information ahead of visiting the exhibition.
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, said: “We are delighted to share more details about Dippy on Tour at Norwich Cathedral this summer and we hope people enjoy exploring our new Dippy microsite which features all the latest details about the exhibition.
Dippy’s visit is now just a month away and behind the scenes our Cathedral team has been busy working alongside the Natural History Museum and many different local organisations to ensure that Dippy’s visit will be an unforgettable experience for all who visit.
We cannot wait to open the exhibition on July 13 and are looking forward to a wonderful summer full of dinosaur fun!”
Entry to the Dippy on Tour exhibition will be free and there will be no need to book in advance (unless part of a group of more than six people), although people may need to queue during busy periods. People will also need to adhere to the latest Covid regulations at all times.
Visitors will start their Dippy on Tour experience from the Dark Entry of the Cathedral’s Cloister and, before coming face-to-face with Dippy, they will step back into the age of the dinosaurs via a time tunnel created by Norwich School students and pupils from other local primary schools.
They will also be able to take a closer look at fossils kindly loaned by Norfolk Museums Service and walk through an immersive wave sculpture created by Norfolk-based artist Mark Reed and called Your Waves Go Over Me.
In the Cathedral’s Nave, Dippy will take centre stage against the stunning backdrop of the Cathedral’s 900-year-old architecture, with the iconic 26m dinosaur cast stretching out to face the Cathedral’s Great West Door.
Dippy’s nationwide tour aims to inspire people to engage with nature, to think about the great diversity of life that has lived on Earth, and to consider our own footprint on the planet. As the only Cathedral on Dippy’s tour, Dippy’s Norwich visit also aims to spark conversations about science and faith.
Norfolk-based artist Rebecca Osborne will be drawing upon some of these themes in a special series of illustrated panels created especially for the Norwich stop on Dippy’s tour, meanwhile there will also be a display of green hearts created by Norfolk WI members that aim to encourage everyone to think about the Earth’s future and help combat climate change. People will also be encouraged to make their own individual pledge to help protect the planet before they leave the Dippy on Tour exhibition.
Also in the Nave, Children will be able to have fun following Dippy’s footprints to find some of Dippy’s fellow dinosaurs and learn some fun facts about dinosaurs and Norwich Cathedral too.
Outside in The Close, people will be able to learn more about some of Dippy’s closest relatives – birds – thanks to the Hawk and Owl Trust who will have a stand in the Cathedral’s Lower Close throughout the duration of Dippy’s visit. Here, people will be able to find out more about the Cathedral’s famous peregrine falcons who have made the spire their home.
The Dippy on Tour exhibition will open to the public from 1pm on Tuesday 13 July, and from then on it will usually be open six days a week until Saturday 30 October 2021. The opening times will be 10am-4pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 5.30pm on Saturdays. From Friday 30 July, people will also be able to visit Dippy every Friday evening from 7pm until 9pm.
Dippy’s home in the east is also a busy working Cathedral and the Cathedral’s daily pattern of worship will continue throughout Dippy’s visit. The Dippy exhibition will be closed on Sundays and there will also be other occasions when opening times may vary. All the latest details will be made available on the Dippy pages of the Cathedral website.
The East End of the Cathedral will also continue to be open daily for general Cathedral visitors and those who wish to explore more of the Cathedral before or after they have seen Dippy.
For Dippy’s visit, safety continues to be the number one priority. With the continued uncertainty with regard to Covid-19, Norwich Cathedral and the Natural History Museum are working together closely to ensure that visitors will be able to enjoy the exhibition safely when it opens in July.
The Dean of Norwich said: “As we prepare to welcome Dippy, our planning is being continually updated in line with the latest Coronavirus guidance to ensure that the Cathedral continues to be Covid-secure and that we can offer visitors the safest possible environment to enjoy seeing our prehistoric guest.”
