As plans take root to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Harrogate’s Valley Gardens is going to have its own special ‘Royal Seat’ following a generous proposal from a local chainsaw sculptor.
Jonathan Sherwood, of Sherwood Carvings Harrogate, has approached Harrogate Borough Council with his proposals. Jonathan wanted to create a sculpture in his home town that would mark the occasion and be enjoyed by many. The council’s parks team worked with Jonathan to find the best location in his chosen venue of the Valley Gardens and Nidd Valley Saw Mills have supplied wood large enough for Jonathan to ‘sculpt’. The new seat will be placed on the green area opposite the children’s play area.
Patrick Kilburn, the council’s Head of Parks and Open Spaces, said:
Chainsaw carving is growing in popularity in this country and Jonathan’s sculpture to mark the Diamond Jubilee will be added to our other chainsaw sculptures we commissioned to celebrate the refurbishment last year of the New Zealand Garden located in the Valley Gardens. We have a Marlin, a Kiwi and a Maori bench.
On watching these creations come out of nothing but a tree trunk with the use of a high powered chainsaw, I am full of admiration for Jonathan’s art. This is a great way of recycling a beautiful piece of wood as well as offering a lasting reminder of the Queen’s long reign.
Jonathan will be on site over the May Day bank holiday weekend each day from around 9am to create the Royal Seat and would be pleased if people wanted to come and watch and ask him questions.
Patrick Kilburn added:
My idea for the seat is to link it to the Royal connections with Harrogate.
The Queen owns the Stray and of course the Valley Gardens is part of the Stray land bequest. I know the Queen re-opened the Sun Pavilion some years ago and I plan on sending her some photos of her new ‘seat’. I wanted to create something to represent the Queen’s jubilee whilst keeping it fun and interesting for children and hopefully adults as well in the valley gardens.
More information about Jonathan can be found at www.sherwoodcarving.co.uk
