New Woodland Sculptures Bring Watchtree’s Story Trail to Life

Watchtree Nature Reserve is now home to six brand-new, beautifully crafted wood sculptures, created by talented local wood carver Thomas Smith of Greensmith Carving. The carvings celebrate the much-loved characters from Watchtree’s interactive walking trail, The Adventures of Flash and Iris, written by Anja Phoenix of Tale Trails.

Visitors can now meet:

• Briar the hedgehog
• Iris the Skylark
• Doug the mouse
• Flash the Great Crested Newt
• A mystical Green Man
• Nash the  Hare

Each sculpture has been carved from a windblown Oak Tree, with incredible attention to detail, capturing the charm and personality of these trail favourites.

The story trail itself is designed to encourage children – and the young at heart – to explore Watchtree’s paths, spot the sculptures, and enjoy the whimsical tale of Flash and Iris along the way. It’s an immersive, family-friendly experience that combines nature, art, and storytelling in one.

The creation of The Adventures of Flash and Iris was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Noble Charitable Trust, Co-op, Tesco Stronger Starts, and Bimson Haulage. The addition of the new wood carvings marks an exciting new chapter for the trail – a project that would not have been possible without the ongoing support of Bimson Haulage, whose commitment to the reserve has helped bring these characters to life.

Senga Grave, Marketing & Communications at Watchtree Nature Reserve, said:
“The sculptures are already proving to be a hit with visitors. They bring a tactile, interactive element to the story trail, giving families a reason to pause, look closer, and connect with the characters in a whole new way. We’re so grateful to Tom Green for his artistry, and to our sponsors for helping us make this happen.”

John Bimson from Bimsons Haulage added

“We are thrilled to support Watchtree and the development of their story trail. As a local business, we feel it is important to support local organisations. Watchtree offers so much to the community that they are a perfect fit for our support.” 

The sculptures are now in place and ready to be discovered – just pick up the Adventures of Flash and Iris story trail map from the Watchtree Visitor Centre or download from our website www.watchtree.co.uk/plan-your-visit/trails-and-maps/ and see how many you can find!