The Dittos of Dawlish
Meet the Dittos
Dittos are cheerful, hard-working creatures who take great pride in their town of Dawlish in Devon. They look after the wildlife, such as the swans and ducks, and are always ready to help if a bird’s nest is damaged or a baby hedgehog gets lost.
The Creators
David Hardie and his sister, Diana Townsend, have worked together on many creative projects. They both live in Dawlish and when their respective children were young, David told them stories of the Dittos, magical elf-like creatures who recycle things humans leave behind.
The Houses
In 2021, David became ill and spent many weeks in intensive care. When he was finally allowed home, he faced a long recovery during lockdown. To keep himself busy, he decided to carve a house for a Ditto. Then another. And another... By the time lockdown finished, David had created nearly 30 miniature houses. In an attempt to reclaim their home, his family suggested the houses would make a unique trail around the town that might be popular with visitors.
