If someone asked me which animal has appeared most often from my chainsaw, I can guarantee it would be the owl!
I have carved loads of owls over the years. In fact, I’m pretty sure there can’t be many shapes of tree trunk that have not at some point been turned into a pair of huge, staring eyes and a very curious-looking owl!
Wherever I am, or whoever I am talking to, owls are always one of the first things people mention. Big owls, little owls, barn owls, tawny owls… they never seem to go out of fashion.
But the thing I have always found fascinating is that our love of owls here in Great Britain is not the same everywhere.
Head over to America and people are much more likely to ask for bears or bald eagles. In Germany, bears are hugely popular too, with eagles following closely behind and owls coming in third place. Even then, their owl of choice is often the elegant long-eared owl while, here in Britain, we seem to have a real soft spot for the round-faced characters like tawny owls and barn owls.
So why are we all drawn to different animals?
I don’t think it’s simply about which creatures live in our gardens or local countryside. I think it comes down to something much more interesting – the stories we’ve grown up with, the places we feel connected to and the animals that capture our imagination.
For many of us in Britain, owls have always felt a little bit magical.
Hearing an owl call on a quiet evening is one of those unforgettable countryside moments. Everything goes quiet, then suddenly there’s that unmistakable “twit-twoo” in the distance. It makes you stop and listen.
Owls have been part of British folklore for centuries, so we all have an affinity with them. They have appeared in myths, legends and children’s stories, often carrying an air of mystery that few other birds can match.
And, of course, they have featured in some of our favourite childhood stories too. For many younger generations, the idea of owls as clever, loyal companions was helped along by Hedwig, Harry Potter’s famous snowy owl. Brave, beautiful and certainly the most efficient magical mail delivery service you could ask for!
But did you know owls weren’t always seen as ‘wise’?
Before Victorian times, they were often considered rather foolish birds. It’s only over the last couple of hundred years that they gained their reputation as the ‘wise old owl’ we know today.
Funny how a reputation can change, isn’t it?
I also wonder whether there is something about the way owls look that makes us connect with them. Those huge forward-facing eyes and rounded faces give them so much character. They almost look like they are keeping an eye on you and wondering what you are up to!
Psychologists suggest that humans are naturally drawn to softer, rounder features because they remind us of things that feel familiar and comforting. Perhaps that’s why an owl carving feels so welcoming in a garden. Place one on top of an old tree stump and it somehow looks as though it has always belonged there, doesn’t it?
Yet every country has its own favourite sculpture subject. In America, bears and bald eagles represent strength, freedom and the great outdoors. They are powerful symbols and make incredible subjects for large timber sculptures.
In Germany, bears remain a favourite, alongside eagles, while the long-eared owl continues to be a popular choice because of its beautiful feather details and striking shape.
Travel north to Scotland and before long someone will ask for a Highland Coo! Ever popular with their shaggy coats, flowing fringes and huge personalities, they’re almost made for carving! More than that though, they represent the landscape and heritage of Scotland in exactly the same way that owls have become part of our own countryside.
The same happens around the world. In Canada, moose, bears and beavers often take centre stage, reflecting the incredible natural wilderness and outdoor lifestyle the country is famous for. Travel to Japan and mythology plays a much bigger role, with foxes linked to intelligence and spirituality, and cranes treasured as symbols of longevity and good fortune.
It makes you wonder though, if we choose the animals we would most like to see every day, or do we choose the ones that remind us of somewhere, someone or something special? Maybe a childhood memory of spotting a barn owl gliding silently across a field or a favourite woodland walk – or a holiday in the Highlands?
One of my favourite parts of this job is hearing the stories behind people’s commissions. Very rarely does someone simply say, “I’d like an owl, please.” There is usually a reason behind it as, maybe, it reminds them of a parent or grandparent, or it is connected to a favourite place. Maybe they have always loved owls and finally have the perfect spot for one in their garden.
This is what makes carving so rewarding. A sculpture isn’t just about recreating an animal. It’s about capturing the feeling that animal creates.
And maybe that’s why owls have remained such a favourite here in Britain. They’re familiar, full of personality and have quietly become part of our national story.
As for me, I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of carving them.
Every log is different and every piece of grain creates a different feather pattern. I love working on a particular tilt of the head which gives each owl creation its own little personality. Even after all these years, there’s still something special about watching one appear from what started life as an ordinary tree trunk.
So perhaps the real question isn’t why owl carvings are so popular; perhaps the better question is why certain animals speak to us more than others.
I would love to know what you would choose. If you had a tree stump waiting to be transformed, would you go for an owl… or something completely different?
Florian Lindner
