Carved from a dead cedar tree isn’t that a curious beginning for a story? This is the Storybook Tree in Bury Knowle Park. It stands before you a testament to imagination and community spirit.
Commissioned by Headington Action in 2005 the Storybook Tree wasn’t just a sculpture. It was a dream given form. Local sculptor Matt Cave breathed life into the trunk transforming it into a whimsical world. He carved scenes from beloved children’s stories. Smaug the dragon from Tolkien’s The Hobbit peers out from the wood. Aslan the majestic lion from C S Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia shares space with a horse from The Horse and His Boy.
This wasn’t a quick project. The carving took four weeks of meticulous work. Before the project began a model was shown to the public. Over 90% loved the idea. The model even went to a local school.
The Storybook Tree’s unveiling was a special event. Graham Upton the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University officially introduced it to the world on May 25 2005.
But the Storybook Tree’s story continues. In 2007 it won an Oxford Preservation Trust Environmental Award. It’s a symbol of preserving nature’s beauty and transforming it into art. This amazing project received sponsorship from several organizations Oxford Brookes University Oxford University Press and others joined forces to make it happen.
Two years later two new seats were added. One shows a carved serpent. The other depicts a beaver. They add to the magical charm of this park feature. Children gather around the Storybook Tree especially in summer. They hear stories about the creatures carved into its trunk. This Storybook Tree is more than just art. It’s a place of wonder and imagination. It’s a story waiting to be discovered. And its story doesn’t end here. Recently it was taken down for safety reasons. However it’s getting a new life. It will become a climbing frame for children. Its unique shape is perfect for this purpose. The Storybook Tree will continue to enchant children for years to come in a new role. This is a story about the power of collaboration creativity and the enduring magic of children’s literature.