County flower oak sculpture set to be completed

The sculpture depicts a snake's head fritillary

A new artwork depicting a county flower sculptured out of ancient oak is set to be completed.

Natasha Houseago, who has been the artist in residence in Ducklington, Oxfordshire, since July said she had been working "one or two days a week on the fantastic ancient piece of oak".

The work, which will be fully completed in the village on Saturday, depicts a snake's head fritillary - the rare county flower of Oxfordshire.

It will make up one part of a trail of pieces, commissioned by the local parish council, which is set to open next year.

"I am mainly a hand carver so it's slowly evolved over the months," Ms Houseago explained.

She said the process had been "lovely" and "I've got to meet the local people whilst I've been carving away".

Her sculpture has been created from a piece of local oak that had come down during a storm, and has been carved into the unique shape of the county flower.

"I looked at fritillaries in great detail, I had my field microscope and I thought they are absolutely perfect in a sense," she said of the flowers.

"It's a very strong sculptural flower and I love the idea that the fritillary was known to be a symbol of peace and resilience and that just felt really apt in these difficult times."

"It's a very lovely thing to have been slowly carving it, and the locals have been able to see it slowly evolve."

Artist Natasha Houseago has created the work

The creation also features depictions of swans, and a small hole in which clay insects created by local children will be hidden inside.

Ms Houseago said this would "bring the carving to life" and would be a "magical process".

The sculpture will be completed during an event at Bartholomew Park in Ducklington on Saturday.