50 Years and Still Growing: A Steel Badger for the Woodland Trust
“Stainless steel badger sculpture commissioned for the Woodland Trust, celebrating 50+ years of protecting UK ancient woods.”
From little acorns, mighty oaks grow. And from a small meeting in a Devon home in 1972, the Woodland Trust has grown into a guardian of over 1,000 woods across the UK.
I was honored to be commissioned by the Trust to create stainless steel badger sculptures, celebrating their incredible journey over the last five decades.
A Legacy of Protection Reading through the Trust's history is inspiring. It started with Ken Watkins saving a single wood in Devon in 1973. Today, they care for iconic sites like Glen Finglas in Scotland and have planted over 50 million trees.
When designing this sculpture, I wanted to capture the resilience of the wildlife that calls these places home. The badger is the quintessential resident of the ancient woodland - a symbol of the deep roots and hidden life within the forest floor.
Why Stainless Steel? Just as the Trust is dedicated to the permanent protection of our natural heritage, I wanted to create a piece that would last. Fabricated by hand from stainless steel, this badger is built to withstand the elements, reflecting the changing seasons of the woods for generations to come.
Here’s to the next 50 years of planting, protecting, and restoration.