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A wooden sculpture of a snake is placed on a grassy area, surrounded by dense, green foliage in the background.

The Snake

The Snake by Ian Freemantle (2021)

Coiled at the edge of the canal, The Snake was created by Stony Stratford-based woodworker Ian Freemantle. The Snake along with the Seed Pods were some of the outputs from Ian's 'One Tree Project' in 2021. The timber for the sculptures came from the Stockgrove Redwood (a Sequioiadendron giganteum), which was the central tree on an avenue of 12 specimens which were planted 100 years ago at Stockgrove Park House at what is now Rushmere Country Park. It sadly died around its 100th birthday, having reached a height of over 100 feet. It was expertly dismantled by a skilled arborist and has since been made into a variety of different sculptures. The wood will change colour from its striking red to a soft silver-grey. It is a great choice for outdoor sculptures as it is durable whilst being light in weight. The Snake and the Seed Pods are sitting on cradles made from oak.

The Snake was co-designed with local schoolchildren in a workshop as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

You can find the Snake at What3Words location underway.sweetened.random.

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Listen to the artist Ian Freemantle talk about the wooden sculptures he created as part of our project to Restore, Reveal and Revive Great Linford Manor Park.

Great Linford Public Art

Discover the public art in the historic Great Linford Manor Park in Milton Keynes.

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lifelike wooden sheep sculptures are positioned among green grass and trees in an outdoor park setting.

The Sheep

The Sheep (2021) Lifelike wooden sheep carved by Luke Chapman.
Shell fossil in stone sculpture

The Fossils

The Fossils (2021) 3 fossils carved into 3 freshly-hewn boulders by Louis Francis
A grassy area featuring distinct white leaf printed stones, creating a striking contrast against the green landscape.

Lime Leaf Stepping Stones

Lime Leaf Stepping Stones (2021) Stone stepping stones shaped like lime leaves, carved by Louis Francis.
This image shows several large, rust-colored metal horseshoes standing upright on a grassy field. The horseshoes are partially buried in the ground and vary in size. The background is filled with dense green trees and foliage.

The Horseshoes

The Horseshoe (2021) Metal sculptures by Arcangel, celebrating canal heritage.
The image shows wooden carved seed pods arranged against a backdrop of grass and a tree. The seed pods vary in size and have intricate details, rough surface pairs with the natural outdoor setting of the tree and grass. The earthy tones of the wood blend harmoniously with the green surroundings.

The Seed Pods

The Seedpods (2021) Redwood sculptures by Ian Freemantle nestled in the parks wildflower meadow
A wooden sculpture of a snake is placed on a grassy area, surrounded by dense, green foliage in the background.

The Snake

The Snake (2021) Redwood sculptures by Ian Freemantle at Great Linford Manor Park.
This image shows a silver metal sculpture in the shape of a large, intricate leaf. The leaf is standing upright on a patch of grass, with lush green bushes and trees in the background.

The Lime Leaf Chair

The Lime Leaf Chair (2021) Sculpture by Arcangel, inspired by Linford Lime trees.
Stone building and ornamental lakes at Great Linford Manor Park.
Great Linford Manor Park

This scenic park also boasts an Alphabet Trail, ornamental ponds, a play area and historic features which have been restored thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Visit the Great Linford Manor Park webpage for more details on how to get to the park, free car parks, facilities and accessibility.

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