"The remnants of the UK's tallest tree, which was felled after being damaged in a storm, has been transformed into a carving of a giant hand.

A 15.2m (50ft) stump was the only part left standing after the 124-year-old Douglas Fir was axed at the Lake Vyrnwy estate in Powys in March.

It had stood at 63.7m (209ft), taller than a 20-storey building, and was once regarded as the UK's joint highest.

From wrist to finger tip, the giant hand measures 2m (7ft).

Artist Simon O'Rourke, 33, from Wrexham, used a chainsaw to carve the top of the stump, and modelled the sculpture on his own hand.

Scaffolding was erected around the "blank canvas" tree trunk last month and the project took a week to complete.

"The Forestry Commission, who are looking after the area, decided that it would be a good idea to have a memorial to the tree and left a 50ft stem when they felled it," said Mr O'Rourke, who has called his work the Giant Hand of Vyrnwy.

"They invited eight artists to tender for the job and I got it."

He said the hand carving was in an area of the estate known as The Giants of Vyrnwy, and the location had inspired him.

The hand sculpture
image captionThe hand was carved at the top of the 50ft high stump
"There are a few tall Douglas firs growing in the Giants of Vyrnwy area and I was going on the giants theme," he said.

"It's a last attempt by the tree to reach the sky."

Mr O'Rourke, who has been tree carving for nine years, has 12 different chainsaws.

His previous projects have included carvings of a swan, an angel, a kingfisher, a chipmunk and a giant clock.

The damage to the tree was spotted earlier this year, and the Forestry Commission feared that it could have been a risk to visitors.

The tree was leaning to one side, and there were two substantial cracks on opposite sides of the main stem extending from the buttress roots to a height of 3.5m.

A few years ago, it was measured by tree surgeon who stretched a length of rope up to the top as he climbed its branches.

The height was then calculated back on the ground and confirmed by the Tree Register of the British Isles".

With what it can been compared?

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Hi, Denis! Recently you wrote in a message to All:

[...] the 124-year-old Douglas Fir was axed at the
Lake Vyrnwy estate in Powys in March.

Both "Lake Vyrnwy" and "Powys" are Welsh place names. AFAIK Douglas fir trees are not native to the UK, although they are native to the west coast of North America. I couldn't help noticing the location because the mother of one of my high school friends, who was Welsh, thought such trees were ugly. A person with a large estate might import them as a novelty, however.

In their natural habitat Douglas fir trees may be quite close to one another & they seek the light by growing tall, straight trunks. Under crowded conditions they often shed their lower branches as they grow taller. But when they're not forced to compete for light, they don't appear to do this.... :-)

A few years ago, it was measured by tree surgeon who
stretched a length of rope up to the top as he climbed
its branches.

The height was then calculated back on the ground and
confirmed by the Tree Register of the British Isles.

With what it can been compared?

I reckon it was compared with other trees in the UK... many of which may be older but tend to spread out sideways. When Dallas & I were in England virtually all the trees we saw were deciduous, while firs are evergreens. :-)




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