Tourists tarnishing oak stag
A GIANT wood sculpture greeting visitors to Bradgate Park is reportedly being damaged by overzealous admirers.
Carved from the remains of a felled oak tree stump and standing at 3m tall, The Stag cuts an impressive figure on the approach to the park’s Bradgate Road entrance, in Newtown Linford.
But some of its admirers are accused of weakening the sculpture, which was completed in March, by climbing over it.
Pam McMorran, clerk of Newtown Linford Parish Council, said: “The Friends of Charnwood Forest and residents of the village recently commissioned the stag’s head sculpture of from a 300-year-old oak tree stump using renowned wood sculptor Peter Leadbeater.
“This great work of art is sadly being damaged by people climbing on it, mainly to take family photographs. The antlers are becoming loose and it is barely months since it was carved.”
Ms McMorran said the reports were received from residents who were among those who helped to raise £1,500 to pay for the artwork.
She said: “I don’t think people are being malicious. Quite the opposite, I think they really like the sculpture.
“By all means touch it and admire it but please don’t climb or allow your children to climb on it.
“It would be a great shame for such acts of thoughtlessness to result in the destruction of such a beautiful symbol of our landscape.”