Pub's landmark tree sculpture

Publican Shaun Gibbons was told by the Highways Agency to cut the tree down because it was considered dangerous, but he hoped the base might yet be saved.

Rather than have the massive tree removed he decided to have it turned into a creative carving.

He commissioned local timber sculptor Joc Hare to work on what was left of the three stemmed Monterey Cypress once tree surgeon Steve Molyneux had trimmed it down, and at the weekend held a ceremony to officially launch the piece.

This was attended by Town Mayor Cllr Jimmy Carroll, who welcomed what is a new landmark on the A259.

Shaun said: “We have had a lot of very good compliments.”

He added: “I was ordered to take the tree down because it was dying, but instead of cutting it down to a stump I thought to try to find someone to do something with it.”

Joc and his assistants set about the arduous task of cutting the internal decay from the tree and cutting the remaining wood into a purely abstract form with chainsaws and angle grinders. The finished sculpture is treated with a mould and colourfast preservative.

Joc spent 20 days working on it over seven months - for most of winter he couldn’t really tackle the wood because it was too damp.

He has created a diverse range of large timber sculptures around East Sussex during the last 10 years in mostly public spaces - this latest one measures approximately eight feet tall.

PICTURED: Landlord

Shaun Gibbons with Sculptor Joc Hare and Bexhill Mayor Jimmy Carroll.