This sculpture was located at Grizedale Tarn, which is supposedly the only natural tarn in the forest and was an emergency water supply for Grizedale Hall during World War Two. A tiny artificial island with a miniature bridge, 'Island Earth' wouldn't have looked out of place in a rich aristocrat's decorative gardens. It disappeared off the guide maps years ago, yet it was still there for a long time afterwards. The tarn made a big impression on Rankin, as he mentions in 'A Sense Of Place':

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"On discovering the beauty and stillness of Grizedale Tarn, I sat for two days quietly observing the rotating movement of the water, which seemed to represent the eternal space of the universe. I decided to construct a small island which would slowly rotate within this vast space. This island would include plant life and evidence of past human activity such as a bridge and a ruined dry stone building which had been partially destroyed by fire, so incorporating all the elements of life."

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Speaking of sculptures and water, John Kaufman's 'The Diver' is a man in a diving suit, constructed from bands of steel, which sits in the Thames at Rainham Marshes in London. The sculpture was apparently inspired by the work of Don Rankin, and Rankin himself even supported the project, offering help and mentorship throughout.