Chainsaw wood sculptor turns storm damaged cedar into memorial tree

Professional chainsaw wood sculptor Andy Burgess has carved a memorial tree in the grounds of Radbroke Hall,  Peover Superior, for Barclays staff to remember lost loved ones.

The top of the tree has been transformed into a bench where people can sit and spend a few quiet moments.

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Branches have been sculpted back onto the trunk to hold heart shaped slates containing names of former friends and work colleagues.

Andy, 48, from Mobberley, said: “A huge cedar tree in the middle of a large field had to come down because it was dangerous.

“People who work there were invited to make suggestions.

“They put forward some really good ideas and came up with a mood board of what they wanted to see on the tree.

Andy carved a bird into the tree trunk (Image: Andy Burgess)

“It was a very organic process.”

Andy has always loved working with his hands and transforms windblown, diseased and fallen trees into works of art.

“Every carving is a one-off,” said self-taught Andy, who was inspired to work with wood in 2009 by brother, Tim, also a full-time chainsaw wood sculptor.

“I constructed branches from wood leftover from the bench and re-attached them to the tree.

“They asked me to carve a rabbit, robin, stars, rose and hands clasped like they were shaking hands.

Sculptor Andy Burgess carved a handshake into the tree trunk (Image: Andy Burgess)

“They were all things linked to Radbroke Hall and had meaning.

“I tried my best to get it right and I am very proud of it.”

Andy braved the wind and rain for two weeks to complete the carving with painstaking precision.

Working with chainsaws and power tools is not only dangerous but demands total concentration.

Professional chainsaw wood sculptor Andy Burgess spent two weeks carving the memorial tree (Image: Andy Burgess)

“You’ve only got one chance,“ said Andy. “There’s no room for error.

“You’re working to millimetre precision when you’re carving. One move and you could ruin a sculpture.

“I love my work,” he said. “You get absorbed.

Professional chainsaw wood sculptor Andy Burgess loves his work (Image: Andy Burgess)

“I hope this tree is still there in 50 years, maybe my grandkids will see it.”

Julian Bucknall, real estate lead for Barclays, said: “It was an honour to host a very special event to reveal our uniquely sculpted Radbroke remembrance tree.

“Colleagues have added names and personal messages onto slate hearts to remember other colleagues who have recently passed in service.

“I’ve been wanting to create something permanent in our campus grounds for a while, befitting the memories of those colleagues who were lost too early.

“This former storm damaged tree has been carved into the remembrance tree and a bench created from it too for colleagues to sit alone or with others to reflect quietly.

“Popular icons, suggested by colleagues, have all been carved into the tree too.

“Many thanks to Andy Burgess for his amazing talent who has spent many hours carving such a special tree.”