Over six thousand children. That’s how many helped create the Millennium Stone Braddan. Can you imagine the scene?
The Millennium Stone Braddan stands as a silent testament to the dawn of the new millennium. It’s a monument more than just a stone. This wasn’t a quiet affair. This involved a massive community project. Every primary school child on the Isle of Man played a part. They planted saplings. These saplings formed the Millennium Oakwood. The Stone is its centerpiece. It’s a living monument a gift from the children of 2000 to generations yet to come.
The project took two years of planning. The Mann 2000 Committee spearheaded the effort. Noel Cringle the Speaker of the House of Keys was at the helm. The idea was to plant a wood. It wasn’t just any wood. It was to commemorate the turn of the millennium. The acorns came all the way from Worcestershire. Children from English schools collected them. They transported them to the Isle of Man. Every child on the island got to plant their own sapling.
The day of planting was a spectacle. Sixty-nine buses transported thousands of children. Even steam trains and trams were involved. The roads were closed. Entertainers jugglers and stilt walkers added to the festive atmosphere. The whole island participated.
At the heart of the Millennium Oakwood sits the Millennium Stone Braddan. It depicts the Manx Sword of State piercing an orrery. This is a globe representing the solar system. It sits atop a replica of Tynwald Hill. The Three Legs of Man form the base. The sword symbolizes the Isle of Man’s position in time and space at the start of the new millennium. Tynwald Hill represents the island’s enduring political stability. The orrery also serves as a sundial. The shadow cast by the sword at midday on January 1st 2000 perfectly aligned with 12 o’clock. A truly remarkable feat of engineering and design.
The Millennium Stone Braddan is more than just a monument. It’s a symbol of community unity. It’s a testament to the island’s rich history and bright future. It’s a reminder of a day that will forever be etched in the memories of thousands. It’s a story waiting to be retold for centuries to come. A story you are now part of.