The latest addition to Beeston’s Cross Flatts Park, a beautiful sculpture created in one of the trees earmarked for felling because it is suffering from the Ash dieback disease, was unveiled by the Lord Mayor on Saturday (11 May 2024).
The sculpture, created by Shane Green, reflects both the nature and the organisations that make the park what it is. You will find a heron, two owls and Red Kite in the branches at the top, while lower down there are references to Beeston in Bloom, parkrun, cycling and the bowling club (formed in 1908). A Yorkshire rose, bees, vines and a dream ladder linking everything together.
Before cutting the ribbon, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Al Garthwaite said:
“This sculpture is absolutely beautiful and it’s in my local park, I only live just down the road and I come to the park most days and it’s going to be really lovely to see this. It commemorates everythings that’s good about this area, it’s a real statement.
“Thanks to Shane for doing it, many thanks to my Lady Mayoress Angela Gabriel, another local resident who determinedly gathering support and funding for the sculpture.
“It’s a wonderful thing have in this park and will give much joy to people for many years to come.”
Lady Mayoress, Hon Alderwoman Angela Gabriel commented:
“I love Cross Flatts Park, I live locally and I have seen sculptures like this in other parks and I thought Cross Flatts Park deserves its own sculpture. I’m so pleased and I’m so happy for all the people that supported us. I’m really proud and I hope people will care for it and look after it over the years.”
Artist Shane Green who created sculpture added:
“This is one of my favourite commissions because it’s not just a cylinder it’s got branches, it’s a sculpture already. I have loved doing it and I like the fact that it mixes nature and man-made Beeston. It’s like coming back home because I was brought up in Hunslet.”
The sculpture was funded by the Inner South Community Committee, Housing Advisory Panel, Active Leeds, Beeston in Bloom, Beeston Festival, local ward councillors and Health For All. There was also a crowdfunding appeal with anyone giving £100 have their initials included on the tree.
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Brilliant tree sculpture! Great photos of this too
Joins the one, also completed by Shane, in Middleton… Looks great.