Tree transformed into sculpture gets 'forever home'

The sculpture took 50 hours to complete

A village tree that was brought down by high winds and turned into an animal sculpture has found its "forever home" at a Derbyshire community centre.

In April, Ben Yeates, 42, from Whitwell in Derbyshire, used a chainsaw to transform the stump of the tree that fell down opposite Whitwell Newsagents in December last year.

After looking for somewhere to place the sculpture, Mr Yeates said there was a "lot of red tape" over where he could put it, due to council permissions.

Whitwell Parish Council said his animal sculpture can be placed at the village's community centre garden, and Mr Yeates said it is "nice to see something local stay local."

The sculpture features a fox and two owls

Mr Yeates said he has had great feedback from residents on the sculpture's new home.

"It's fantastic, people are stopping me and asking me about it and what I do", said Mr Yeates.

"It's nice to get recognition for what I have done and the sculpture brings the nature back into the garden."

On the new addition, chair of the parish council, Tom Munro, said: "We are delighted that it has found its forever home in the community centre garden.

"I would urge the people of Whitwell to come down and see it if they haven’t already.

"It's another example of the phenomenal talent across Whitwell and we are very proud of that."