I was first approached by Duncan Coleman from Trentham Gardens last year about the possibility of carving a sculpture from a substantial Cedar stump that had been left behind after the tree was removed some years earlier. The tree had been monolithed rather than taken down completely, in keeping with Trentham Estate’s policy of leaving deadwood in situ wherever possible to support wildlife. In this case, the stump also offered the opportunity for a new focal point within the landscape.
With Trentham’s ongoing project to reintroduce beavers to the estate, as part of licenced enclosure, the subject matter felt like an obvious and fitting choice. As Duncan, Trentham Estate’s Wildlife Ranger and Educational Lead, explained,
“The sculpture sits within the North Jetty area, which has been carefully developed into a family-focused activity hub. The space includes ponds, natural play features and opportunities for pond dipping, all designed to reflect the abundance of wildlife found in the locality.”
In this instance, the initial design didn’t come from me. One of the Trentham team, Carol Adams (Head of Biodiversity and Horticulture), who was one of the driving forces in bringing beavers to the estate, had produced a concept that responded beautifully to the shape of the stump. We discussed how closely it might be followed once carving began. As with all work in standing timber, I made it clear that the internal condition of the tree would ultimately guide what was possible.
Once I began carving, it became clear that the Cedar had some unexpected challenges. I uncovered several significant areas of rot, which is unusual for this species. When decay appears like this, the process becomes one of reading the timber and anticipating how far the affected areas might extend. Knowing that rot generally travels more readily along the grain than across it allowed me to identify a strong, intact section suitable for the main beaver, which became the anchor point for the piece. From there, I could explore other solid areas of the stump to add further details, including leaping fish and two baby beavers carved in relief.
Placing each element was a careful balancing act, ensuring everything was carved into sound wood while still feeling cohesive. One of the advantages of adapting the design around areas of decay is that those sections are left undisturbed, continuing to provide valuable habitat for insects and, in turn, the species that feed on them.
For Trentham, the sculpture also reflects their wider conservation work. Since 2023, their focus has been on a family of beavers translocated from Scotland. As Duncan explains,
“They have settled remarkably well, with two sets of kits born in 2023 and 2024, bringing the colony to seven animals.
Trentham is the largest beaver enclosure in the UK and is currently the only licensed beaver enclosure in Staffordshire. During the spring and summer months, Trentham offers discovery cruise boat trips aboard the all-electric Miss Elizabeth, as well as the very popular evening Beaver Safaris, which provide the best opportunities to see the beavers on the estate. Find out more here: https://trentham.co.uk/events-at-trentham/
Duncan noted that while the estate features sculptures in various locations, the scale of this 16-foot Cedar of Lebanon made it particularly well suited to a beaver carving. With previous carvers unavailable for the time-limited project, Trentham got in touch via my website. He mentioned that my portfolio of wildlife work made it clear I was a good fit, and that familiarity with beavers helped ensure the finished sculpture felt true to life. As he put it, many people don’t realise just how solid beavers are, with their broad bodies shaped by a fibrous, woody diet, and it was important that this was captured accurately.
From a practical point of view, working with a challenging tree meant flexibility was essential. Duncan was kind enough to highlight that having my own equipment and being used to stringent health and safety procedures helped keep the project running smoothly, allowing the sculpture to be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
This commission became my final large project before Christmas, and it was a satisfying one to end the year on. The sculpture now sits naturally within its surroundings, contributing both visually and ecologically to the site. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at Trentham Gardens and look forward to returning in the future should another opportunity arise.
