{"id":12336,"date":"2023-05-20T21:20:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-20T20:20:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/?p=12336"},"modified":"2023-05-30T13:01:15","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T12:01:15","slug":"local-nature-reserve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/local-nature-reserve\/","title":{"rendered":"Heron heaven: Boggart Hole Clough pays tribute to it’s ‘famous’ wildlife"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new statue has been unveiled in Boggart Hole Clough to celebrate the wildlife that the local nature reserve has on offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heron which has been dubbed ‘Henry the Heron’ by locals, was as surprise project for the Lakeside community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heron <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The heron statue is a ‘mirror-like image’ of the bird due to a herons statue like nature of standing still to avoid detection from its prey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An easily recognisable figure due to its grey back, long thin legs and bright yellow bill, a heron is one of the many animals that roam free in the local nature reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statue was was made from an oak tree and carved by Karl Macauley, an artist and founder of Elegant Chainsaw Carvings. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to NQ, Karl said the design was one of his ‘toughest’, because of the long thin legs of the Heron and the detailing of the feathers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karl’s work features many wood and stone carvings ranging from animals such as foxes and tigers to Marvel’s fan favourite, Groot, from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Wood
Karl Macauley (left) stood with his Groot statue | Credit: Elegant Chainsaw Carvings <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Red
Red fox wood carving designed by Karl Macauley | Credit: Elegant Chainsaw Carvings <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Karl grew up as an aspiring artist, drawing portraits of people, animals and dogs but then became a self taught chainsaw carver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karl said: “As a boy I was constantly painting and drawing, before long I was learning to carve wood and stone. After favorable comments from friends and family, I decided to take carving seriously and taught myself the art of wood and stone carving.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“After about a year I went on a course and now its something that I really love to do”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Karl also has a Facebook page<\/a> that has gained over 24,000 followers and is able to take on any requests that anyone may have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Exploring Boggart Hole Clough pic.twitter.com\/E35SJe0GM1<\/a><\/p>— Tom Markham (@TomMarkham16) May 20, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>