As well as play areas and themed play equipment, we often construct themed, wooden sculptures and carvings that are complimentary to our designs. We find that wooden animal carvings are, in particular, particularly appropriate to natural settings and we have experience in creating realistic wooden sculptures, as well as incorporating carvings into themed seating and benches. We often incorporate carvings into natural sites when operating as our sister company, The Wild Deck Company, when we build bird hides, boardwalks, and other timber structures in natural settings.
Encourage Learning & Discovery
Although pretty to look at, wooden sculptures, etchings, and carvings have a second purpose – they generate interest from children, educate, and help to form activities through discovery. From large carving projects through to single pieces that are part of an elaborate theme, our sculptures are beautiful and fun. Get in touch with us today to find out what we can do for you.
We can make any sculpture, carving, or engraving that you desire, so don’t be afraid to challenge us. Below, we showcase a few of our designs and have split them into three loose categories. Don’t forget to scroll down to see our ‘unclassified’ category of carvings where we address implementing carvings into a diverse assortment of locations to help your imagination run wild!
Character Carvings
Based upon characters from legends, folklore, or stories, character sculptures are instantly recognisable by visitors and become a talking point with family and friends. See more.
Ground Carvings
Ground bearing sculptures can be of any size and form due to having no weight restrictions. We find wildlife scenes tend to work very well for these types of carvings. See more.
Mounted Carvings
A mounted sculpture is anything that is positioned away from the ground and requires secure fastening. Smaller animals and birds work well in these settings. See more.
Willow Sculptures
We have made several giant willow sculptures, hand woven on a steel frame, that are both striking and memorable. See more.
This is just the beginning of what we can create. Please take a look at some of our more imaginative uses of carvings and sculptures and push your imagination to its limits!
Character Sculptures
Recognisable characters are something that everybody loves to talk about and we pay great attention to detail when capturing the most defining characteristics of every character. The photos below are Brambly Hedge themed characters that we made for the Brambly Hedge Trail at Abberton Reservoir (along with an outdoor play area, several years earlier). Each carving started life as a solid block of wood until we slowly chipped away and achieved the finished forms that you can see below.
Ground Bearing Sculptures and Carvings
One benefit of any ground bearing sculpture is that you are not limited by weight or size. There is incredible diversity in these sculptures – pretty much anything that you can think of can be made. Often we have created wooden carvings and sculptures of animals that are native to the local environment. In the UK this often includes badgers, foxes, deers, and squirrels, but they are just the beginning. We have made larger sculptures by making families of animals and sometimes position a fox carving by a fox hole (crawl through tunnel), to generate a little bit of intrigue and excitement.
Mounted Sculptures and Carvings
A mounted sculpture is anything that is positioned away from the ground, or any other ground platform, and requires secure fastening. Generally we place our mounted sculptures on posts or pieces of play equipment, but in truth, they could be attached anywhere. Smaller animals and birds work well in these settings because they appear more natural – you’re far more likely to see a squirrel or a kite atop a post than a deer or a badger! As with most of our sculptures and carvings, we often like to replicate local wildlife.
Willow Sculptures
We have created several giant animal sculptures with metal frames and hand woven willow. Each one is both striking and memorable due to its size, and we can make any animals (or other creations) that you can think of. See our full collection of willow animal sculptures at Rushden Lakes here.
Let Your Imagination Run Wild
With experience of creating intricately themed play areas, we are able to come up with, source, and create unique and intriguing features for any project. Our designs are always locally relevant and accurately researched with regards to local history, culture, or wildlife specific to the region.
We can incorporate wooden carvings and sculptures subtly into many of our creations. Here are a few more examples of where we have done this, but don’t let your imagination limit you to only these ideas.
Figureheads
This particular design is taken from our pirate galleon, where it sad proudly at the front of the ship.
Decking Etchings
Carved, local animal tracks such as these at Thameside Nature Park add an extra layer of interest for visitors.
Decorative Signage
Adding a personal touch, as we did on our Swiss Chalet, with intricate, delicate, and attractive signs conveys more than just information.
Decorative Etchings
Any surface can be made more interesting and beautiful by a thoughtful etching.
Hidden Treasures
Subtly tucked away like this bat at Abberton play area, a small carving is a wonderful find for unsuspecting visitors.
Interactive Features
Sliders, buttons, and other interactive features, such as these at Westmorland services, can incorporate small carvings.
Dog Tethers
Why leave your furry friend alone when you can leave him with a wooden friend?
Our Designs That Focus Upon Sculptures And Carvings
We incorporate wooden sculptures and carvings into many of our designs, however the following projects
Brambly Hedge Nature Trail
Part of Abberton Reservoir, where we have already built an outdoor play area, a sand martin bank, and multiple bird hides, this nature trail features giant carvings of Brambly Hedge characters.
Animal Wood
Animal Wood is an animal themed, outdoor play area that we made at Castlewellan Forest Park in Northern Ireland. Surrounding by nature, it incorporates animal carvings in our typically rustic style.
Gortin Glen Sculpted Centrepiece
Gortin Glen Forest Park in Northern Ireland was looking for an iconic wooden sculpture that would provide an impressive visitor welcome whilst representing the park. We made this for them.
Rushden Lakes Giant Sculptures
Rushden Lakes is a shopping centre in a natural setting who wanted to promote the local wildlife. We created a series of giant wildlife sculptures, weaving willow onto steel frames.
Rushden Lakes Animal Carvings
Dotted around the natural environment, we made a series of wooden animal carvings for Rushden Lakes. Each carving that we made – bird, insect, or mammal – lives in the local nature.
Designing Your Wooden Sculpture or Carving (s)
Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us via email or phone to discuss your own wooden sculptures or carvings – we are only too happy to help, and can work from strict design ideas or create designs completely from scratch to fit your needs.
No matter whether you are looking for an individual carving of a specific animal or a complete zoo of carvings to fill a forest, we look forward to the challenge. Where appropriate, we can also incorporate the design with other features to compliment your natural setting.
We look forward to hearing from you.
