Four beautifully carved wooden animal sculptures have been installed at Chaddesden Park in Derby, adding a touch of artistic charm and interactive fun for visitors. The sculptures, featuring a hedgehog, duck, rabbit, and owl, were strategically placed throughout various locations within the park on Thursday, creating new points of interest for families and children.
The artistic project came to life through the dedicated efforts of Andrew and Dawn Bailey, who served as the previous leaseholders of the park's cafe and spearheaded a fundraising appeal to make the sculptures possible. Their initiative caught the attention of local government officials who recognized the value of enhancing the community space with meaningful artwork.
Chaddesden East councillors Jerry Pearce and John Wright stepped forward to support the project by providing essential funding through the Neighborhood Board funding program. This financial backing enabled the community group Oakwood Neighbors Sheds to take on the crucial task of securely installing the sculptures into the ground, ensuring they would be permanent fixtures for years to come.
The impressive sculptures were created by Andrew Frost, an artist who works under the professional moniker "Treeeart." Frost crafted each piece from high-quality cypress and cedar wood, dedicating an entire week to the intricate carving process using only a chainsaw. His skilled craftsmanship transformed raw wood into detailed animal figures that capture the essence of each creature.
"It's good that there's more pieces in the park," Frost explained with satisfaction about his contribution to the community space. He emphasized the interactive nature of his work, stating, "They are meant to be tactile and playful so hopefully they will bring some fun and joy for the children." His vision was to create art that invites touch and engagement rather than distant observation.
Andrew Cusick, who serves as chairman of Oakwood Neighbors Shed, expressed enthusiasm about his organization's role in bringing the project to completion. "The funding had been raised for the sculptures but they hadn't actually got anybody who could do the physical installation at the park itself," he explained, highlighting how his group filled a critical gap in the project.
Cusick detailed the hands-on work his team performed: "That's the kind of thing we like to do, so we got together as a group and basically dug a series of holes for the concrete plinths to be placed into, which the animals were placed on top of." The installation process required careful planning and physical labor to ensure each sculpture would be properly anchored and positioned.
The community volunteer expressed genuine pride in the collaborative effort, stating, "We're really delighted that we could help. We are really proud of what we've done." His comments reflect the satisfaction that comes from contributing meaningful volunteer work that directly benefits the local community and creates lasting improvements to public spaces.
Councillors Pearce and Wright shared their optimistic vision for the sculptures' impact on park visitors. They expressed hope that the new artistic additions would "brighten up people's day" when they visit Chaddesden Park, transforming routine park visits into more engaging and memorable experiences for residents and visitors alike.
