Bringing a much-loved landmark back to life

The copper beech with its distinctive purplish-colour leaves stood near the Newbold Terrace entrance and was planted in 1846.

And although to the untrained eye it looked a picture of health, out of sight a fungus was doing deadly things to the roots.

In fact, the fungus had rotted through the roots putting the giant of nature in a precarious position and a danger to passers-by with the likely prospect that it would keel over.

Warwick District Council was forced into chopping it down but the giant base of the tree is being turned into a piece of sculpted art, complete with a seat for children.

Renowned Birmingham sculptor and woodcarver Graham Jones is carving images of Leamington’s history and the architecture of Jephson Gardens into it.

They include an elephant harking back to the days of the Elephant Walk, when a herd that lived in the town was taken to the River Leam on a regular basis to bathe.

It also includes the memorial to Dr Jephson, who promoted Leamington as a spa, and the memorial to the Czech troops stationed in the town who helped assassinate the Nazi tyrant Heydrich.

Park ranger Laura Smith said: “Most people seem to be quite pleased that the council is giving it another life in the form of a sculpture.

“It will be there for people to touch and a seat for children to sit and have their picture taken.

“And the tree trunks have been placed in the park so the children can play on them.”