Friday, July 31, 2015

Five on Friday

Once again I'm joining in with  Amy at Love Made my Home for Five on Friday.  Click on the link at the bottom of this post to find others who are joining in too.

This is the last Five on Friday until September so I thought I'd show you some photos I took last Friday on a visit to Wolseley Visitor Centre the headquarters of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. 

As members we visit both here and their other visitor centre at Westport Lake quite often as well as walking around some of their smaller nature reserves too.  The carving below always catches my eye when we visit Wolseley.

It was carved by North Staffordshire artist Anthony Hammond who specialises in using wood, especially 'green' wood in his sculptures.  The piece above, which was unveiled last year by Countryfile presenter John Craven, was carved into the trunk of a Cedar of Lebanon tree on which the branches had become unstable after weather damage.

There are some wonderful, animals, birds, insects and fish carved into the trunk so I thought I would show you five of them.

Duck

Assuming this is a water vole but I could be wrong of course.

Fish 

Dragon Fly?

Kingfisher

All for now, have a lovely weekend everyone.

32 comments:

  1. The sculpture is beautiful - so well crafted. I like the movement that's been created in the otter carving at the top and the other creatures have also been delicately carved. Enjoy your weekend! It looks as if we shall have better weather!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The weather has been a bit dryer but it it still cool and breezy for the time of year. The otter is lovely isn't it? I think the same man has done some otters at Trentham too:)

      Delete
  2. I love the wood carvings. I wish I had a talent like that. Have a wonderful weekend Rosie. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's amazing how he can get so much detail with a chain saw isn't it?:)

      Delete
  3. And to think that before the advent of the chain saw we just cut trees down and left the stump to rot - now who would have foreseen the invention of that piece of equipment leading to such beauty?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is amazing isn't it? The detail in the pieces with such a large saw and the imagination too:)

      Delete
  4. How impressive. The artist has done a fabulous job carving the animals. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He has hasn't he? The birds and animals are lovely:)

      Delete
  5. Wood carving has always fascinated me. That one is pretty impressive. Have a good month and I'll see you back in Sept.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is wonderful isn't it? I've tried to leave a comment on your Five on Friday post but it has been returned to my mailbox as a 'failed delivery' - not sure what the problem is:)

      Delete
  6. What a stunning artefact, the carving is amazing. A very talented artist. Have a good summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is stunning isn't it - hope you have a lovely summer too:)

      Delete
  7. Omgosh these are amazing..so beautiful..I read that you would like to live by the sea.. so do I long for that, but fear I have left it too late!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I've left it too late too - both age and income are against me:)

      Delete
  8. Great photos of the sculpture. I think it's a brilliant addition to Wolseley!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes you can just catch the light in the right way - it is a brilliant addition:)

      Delete
  9. I love these wood carvings, they are so clever and look so wonderful and definitely add lots to their surroundings don't they. I especially like the suspected water vole! Thank you so much as always for joining in. Glad you remembered there will be no fiving in August, but back in September! Hope that you have a great weekend and a great August too! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm convinced it is a water vole - Ratty - just need Mole to go with him:)

      Delete
  10. What an amazing sculpture! I can't imagine how much time and energy goes into creating something like that! Thanks for sharing it! Have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It must take quite a few hours to create something like this:)

      Delete
  11. What an amazing piece of art. The artist is so talented. It looks like you had a wonderful day visiting this beautiful place. Take care :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is amazing isn't it? We always enjoy visiting Wolesley and seeing the sculpture:)

      Delete
  12. Absolutely wonderful! I love this sculpture. The artists is very talented.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Rosie! What a beautiful post! I love all the wood carvings. They seem to have life! The kingfisher looks like a real one! The water vole is wonderful! All of them! Thanks for sharing!

    Cheers, Sandra

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sandra - yes the carvings are very life like aren't they? I love the kingfisher and the water vole too:)

      Delete
  14. How lovely - some people are just so skilled and inventive aren't they.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are indeed - it is an interesting piece:)

      Delete