Since the turn of the 21st century, large collections have been one of the quickest-growing categories at Guinness World Records. Here's Ann Atkin (UK) surrounded by her army of 2,010 gnomes and pixies. The gnome devotee goes on to break her own record, and at the last count, her collection stands at 2,042. All of her garden ornaments live in a 1.6-hectare (four-acre) beechwood 'Gnome Reserve' that is visited by 25,000 people every year.
If you’re thinking of dropping by the Gnome Reserve in North Devon, UK be prepared to be handed a pointy hat before entering – “so as not to embarrass the gnomes that live there!”.
Her favourite is a gnome called “Siegfried”, which former art student Ann sculpted herself back in 1978 when she first began her collection.
Gnome appreciation around the world is abound - Ron Hale from Canada built the largest garden gnome in 1998 for a theme park that sadly no longer exists. The gnome measures 7.91 m (25 ft 11 in) tall and currently greets visiting motorists as it stands on the grounds of a petrol station.
The current record for the largest gathering of people dressed as gnomes stands at 478, achieved by BBC Hereford & Worcester (UK) at the Foyer of Malvern Theatres in Worcester, UK, on 18 November 2011.
