Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2009 | Page 70

life COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING Carving a ‘high’ note By Tony Ridd It’s funny how often the most casual conversation can often turn something from being an ordinary day to, something quite special! When Robin Hill Country Park Manager, Darren Cool, asked Chainsaw Sculpture, Paul Sivell, what they should do about a dead Sweet Chestnut tree in the park, it set the wheels in motion for a successful attempt at the unofficial world record for the tallest sculptured tree. It took fifteen days for Paul, helped by Fine Art Student, Oliver Adams to start and 70 complete this feat, using chainsaws and power tools to achieve their goal. Standing nearly 18m (58ft) high and beating the previous record by 30cm (12”). The carving depicts a history of the Island and Robin Hill. Starting two thousand years ago with a Roman planting a Sweet Chestnut at the base of the tree. Moving up you come across a Christian Saint. The Island was the last place in Britain to be introduced to Christianity (7th Century). The 9th-11th Century are represented by the Vikings, followed by the Normans, with the date 1066 on a Norman shield depicting this stage of history. Pirates and Smugglers are next, covering the 16th, 17th and eighteenth century, With the Victorians being sybolised by poets Keats ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’ and Tennyson ‘Beneath the Roman ruins where the purple flowers grow.’ Carved high up! A robin with the date 1994, signifies the time that Vectis Ventures, took over the site, and the top branches which portray musical notes brings the sculpture up to date with reference to the Bestival, now very much a major part of the Parks year. This is not the only carving ‘in the park’ that Paul and Oliver have sculptured there are many wonderful pieces of art waiting to be discovered! The park is open everyday from 10.00 ‘til 5.00pm. Paul Sivell (left) with assistant Oliver Adams The Island's most loved magazine