Chainsaw sculpture - Kiwis and Marlins materialise from Tree Trunks in New Zealand Gardens
24 May 2010
A chainsaw sculptor is creating carvings from tree trunks as part of a refurbishment of the New Zealand Gardens located in Harrogate's Valley Gardens.
Chainsaw Mick, from Chainsaw Sculpture based at Hackthorn in Lincolnshire, is carving well known subjects from New Zealand including Kiwi and Marlin
on the trunks of 8' tall Lelandi trees.
Whilst thinning out a number of trees that were originally planted to
provide these native plants with winter protection from wind, frosts and early morning bright sunshine, the council came up with the idea of retaining these trunks and turning them into an art-from.
Chainsaw carving is a skill with a steadily growing band of devotees in the UK although it has been very popular in the USA for quite some time
Harrogate Borough Council has a sister-city relationship with Wellington, New Zealand, which was originally established to honour 23 New Zealand World War II Airmen who were stationed in North Yorkshire and who are buried in the town's Stonefall Cemetery.
Patrick Kilburn, the council's Head of Parks and Open Spaces, says that it had been the original idea to carve in a traditional Maori style but now that Wellington City Council is to gift a traditional "Maori Pou" the idea of these wood-carvings came up instead.
He added:
"
A lot of interest has been shown in the development of these gardens which is being undertaken as a continued programme of improvements in Valley Gardens and we hope that residents and visitors will enjoy these new attractions.
W
e believe that including more of New Zealand's interesting traditions and symbols will add to that enjoyment.
Using the tree trunks in this way is also an eco-friendly thing to do."
The New Zealand Gardens in the north west corner of the Valley Gardens were created in 1953 with the original plants being donated from Wellington City Council.
They are being refurbished
by the council's gardeners with support from a number of volunteers including Harrogate in Bloom member, Tony Sissons, Friends of the Valley Gardens and RHS Harlow Carr.
The gardens were also the subject of a very generous bequest from local resident, Kenneth Broadwith.
They will be formally re-opened in August with a traditional Maori blessing of the gardens and the Pou performed by iwi representatives from Wellington.
ENDS
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY- 11.00 am Tuesday, 25 May 2010 New Zealand Valley Gardens located next to the Sun Pavilion in the Valley Gardens.
Mick Burns (Chainsaw Mick) will have completed one tree and will be working on the next one.
Further information is available from Patrick Kilburn, Head of Parks and Open Spaces on 01423 841106
Media contact:
Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager, 01423 556022 email
lynne.mee@harrogate.gov.uk or
mobile 07525 987921 or 07884 226409