Felled Trees Transformed into Woodland Sculptures

In a pioneering move for County Clare, Clare County Council has transformed felled trees in Shannon Town Park into a series of in-situ woodland sculptures—marking the first initiative of its kind in a public park in the county.

Led by the Shannon Municipal District (MD) Office, the project reimagines necessary tree removal as an opportunity to merge public safety, artistic creativity, and environmental awareness.

Trees that had been deemed unsafe earlier this year were due for removal, but instead of extracting the stumps entirely, the Council enlisted acclaimed wood sculptor Will Fogarty of Fear na Coillte to repurpose the remnants into striking works of art.

Now scattered across the An Taisce International Green Flag Award-winning park are intricately carved figures including owls, foxes, rabbits, a bumblebee, and even a whimsical fairy house—adding both character and charm to the landscape.

“This is the first time we’ve had in-situ tree sculpting done in a public park in Clare,” explained Tom Mellett, Senior Executive Engineer with Shannon MD. “We are proud to lead on something that combines public safety, artistic expression, and sustainability. These sculptures not only enrich the park experience but will also support our efforts to maintain our Green Flag status for the fourth year running.”

“Funded through Shannon MD’s own resources and the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) fund, the project reinforces the importance of reuse in public works and underscores the local authority’s ongoing commitment to enhancing biodiversity and community spaces,” concluded Mr. Mellett.