In 1972 the statue of Tulipan the Tulipman was unveiled by the Turkish Ambassador at Springfields Gardens, Spalding to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the introduction of the tulip bulb from Turkey to Europe.
The statue was designed as a mascot for Springfields gardens by Kees van Driel and created in bronze by Mr. G.M. Whittington, a local sculptor and master of woodwork at Spalding Gleed School.
Tulipan was a character of legend being a little chap that stowed away in the baggage train that brought the first tulip to Europe.
As Springfields gardens were redeveloped into a shopping mall with gardens the statue was moved to Birch Grove garden centre. A stone figure of Tulipan was carved and placed on Lincoln cathedral.
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