Monument to storm-ravaged trees

An artist's impression of the monument to damaged trees

A 10ft-high sculpture made out of dozens of dead trees is to take pride of place in a Cumbria caravan park.

During the January storms in the county more than 500,000 trees were uprooted, and the clear-up took months.

Now chiefs at Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside are to make use of the dead trees by building a tree column surrounding by smaller trees.

Kate Eveson, 23, an art graduate from St Martin's College in Lancaster, has designed the fallen trees sculpture.

She said: "I looked at many different themes to create my ideas including ancient monuments, ancient folklore, the structure of trees and the storms that created the uprooting of these trees.

Clear debris

"The circle has been a symbol of life, life cycles, the earth and also strength for thousands of years.

"I have tried to create my own monument to the trees lost in the storms with seating around a circle so people can interact."

A tree replanting programme is being carried out at the 130-acre caravan park and it is hoped that Miss Eveson's conservation project will be unveiled next March.

During the storms, winds of up to 102mph battered the area uprooting and snapping trees. The clear-up has cost £500,000 - about £1 per tree.

The Forestry Commission joined forces with Cumbria Woodlands to clear the debris.