London's Tree Trunk Tour

The Tree Trunk Tour demonstrates London’s love of trees and is enhancing its reputation as the “Forest City”. Carvers have created sculptures that, instead of being confined to an art gallery, are right out on public streets.

From tree stump to concept drawing and the final carving, it takes about four weeks to transform the tree into a sculpture. About 95% of the carving is done with chainsaws ranging in size from large blocking saws to delicate carving saws. Detailed finishing work is accomplished with chisels and power rotary tools. The artwork is usually painted or stained and then coated with automotive polyurethane enamel to preserve the wood against the weather.