Art in all its manifestations is important to Marchday and none more so than the NEW LODGE OAK TREE. This original “Windsor Oak” was estimated to be at least 400 years old by Bill Cathcart, a Windsor Forest ranger. You can imagine the shock and sadness when a particularly strong gust of wind caused the tree to split down the middle. It turns out that water had been collecting in the heart of the tree for a long long time and it was rotting from the inside out.

The decision about what to do next was made slightly easier by the fact that the tree surgeon deemed the larger branches to be unsafe and they had to be removed. Marchday was left with a 15ft tree stump stripped of its beauty. Although the trees scale and grandeur could never be recreated the history and essence of the tree remained. The challenge was to bring the the tree back to life! ……. Inspiration struck ”how about getting a tree sculpture to look at it?”

Graham Jones, a Birmingham based artist arrived on site in October of 2008 and finished the piece in April 2009. Marchday is exceptionally proud of the tree and hope that it’s essence been recreated … see below and let us know if you think it has worked!

Special thanks to Graham Jones. If you like his work please visit www.gmjwoodcarving.co.uk