A new carved bench in Stonesfield celebrates the beauty of the winding River Evenlode.
The bench, made from steel, was designed by Stonesfield-based artists Genny Early and Tony Davis.
The artwork represents a willow leaf and the winding stretch of the River Evenlode from Fawler Mill down to Combe.
It features lines from The Evenlode poem by Hilaire Belloc: “The tender Evenlode that makes Her meadows hush to hear the sound Of waters mingling in the brakes.”
Belloc, who was a keen sailor, was born in France but studied at Balliol, serving as President of the Oxford Union, and later became a naturalised British subject.
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His writings encompassed religious poetry and comic verse for children. His widely sold Cautionary Tales for Children included "Jim, who ran away from his nurse, and was eaten by a lion" and "Matilda, who told lies and was burned to death".
Genny Early works primarily in linocuts and her work will be seen at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
She has been experimenting with laser-cut steel shapes in natural forms and hand-finished as mobiles, necklace and bracelets.
Ms Early said: "We hope both Stonesfield residents and passers-by from further afield will take a moment to enjoy the bench.
“With so much focus on the health of our rivers at present, this is a fantastic opportunity to draw attention to the beautiful River Evenlode, not only the river itself but the surrounding valley, and the fantastic ongoing work that groups such as the Evenlode Catchment Partnership are doing to restore the health of our rivers and surrounding floodplains and wetlands."
Designer and entrepreneur Tony Davis is the founder of A Blackbird Sang, which makes custom art, design, and sculpture using renewable materials.
The bench is positioned at the bottom of Brooke Lane, at the top of the “Stonesfield Steps” which lead down to the River Evenlode.
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The site is close to where the first fossil bones to be identified as those of a dinosaur were discovered by William Buckland in the early 19th century.
Later named “Megalosaurus”, the fossils are on display in the Oxford Museum of Natural History.
The bench was laser-cut and welded by Precision Sheet Engineering of East End, less than three miles from where the artwork has been installed, making this a truly local art project.
The public art project was commissioned by Stonesfield Parish Council, and funded by S106 developer contributions to improve social infrastructure.
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