A tree sculpture in a Headington park is set for a transformation into a playground feature later this spring.

The Storybook Tree sculpture in Bury Knowle Park had been taken down for safety reasons due to the decay of its tree trunk plinth. 

It depicts characters like Smaug the dragon and Aslan the lion from the books of Oxford's renowned authors JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis.

The initial idea of replacing the plinth was scrapped due to high costs and the fact that there was also decay in the sculpture itself.

The costs could not be justified given that the decay left the sculpture with little life left.

The sculpture will now be redesigned as a climbing log for children - an addition to the park's Narnia-themed play equipment.

Councillor Chewe Munkonge, cabinet member for leisure and parks, said: "It's great to have found a new purpose for the sculpture that keeps it within the park, allowing children to engage in active play while nature gracefully takes back this organic masterpiece.

"Its distinctive form lends itself perfectly to this purpose, and the mythical creatures carved into it are sure to captivate children, inspiring imaginative play.

"As the Storybook Tree sculpture evolves into a playground feature, Bury Knowle Park continues to be a place where creativity and play intertwine, offering a magical experience for all who visit."

The upcoming transformation is a way to not only keep alive a treasured artwork from the park's past, but also provide an interactive setting for the younger park-goers.

Oxford Direct Services will carry out the work later this spring.

The tree was felled on September 9 last year, at a time when fears around the safety of the tree were heightened following the death of a 19-year-old man, Alexander Kippax, who was killed by a falling tree in a park in Oxford a month earlier.

The Storybook Tree was sculpted in 2005 from the trunk of a dead cedar tree.

It was the idea of Boward Tree Surgery in Long Hanborough, which did not want to fully remove the tree.

Concerns about the tree's decay were first raised in 2012.

In 2007 the tree was given an environmental award by Oxford Preservation Trust.

It was initially commissioned by Headington Action and youngsters gather around it for stories in summertime. 

Bury Knowle Park is located in Headington and, as well as being the home of the Storybook Tree sculpture, serves as a hub for the community and offers play facilities, tennis courts, and a sensory garden.