The Elemental Sculpture Park is a 10 acre site, in Somerford Keynes, near Cirencester. A mix of deciduous and conifer woodland with ponds, gardens and magical glades, it is in fact where we buy our Christmas tree every year. We have been aware for some time, through glimpses from the road, that the owner has a passion for sculpting, and were delighted when a sign went up indicating it was open to the public.
The park first opened its gates to the public last year, and we have been meaning to visit since then, a couple of weekends ago my daughter and I finally managed to get around to going.
As well as the owner’s sculptures, the park features the works of over thirty different artists, with around 90 pieces on display, meaning something different lies around every turn in the path.
The works cover a range of forms and topics, with pieces made from stone, metal, and glass.
The setting is natural and absolutely stunning, and made finding each sculpture a magical experience. They really all do look like they belong there.
I believe most of the sculptures are for sale, so the woodland is in fact a giant, organic gallery.
We particularly loved the sculptures made from recycled materials.
And they have given us lots of inspiration for trying to make some sculpture for our own garden.
I loved the use of scrap metal in particular.
And my daughter was very taken with the beautiful stained glass pieces.
Sculpture sometimes seems a little inaccessible, locked away in a gallery or museum, so it was lovely to visit somewhere were it is displayed in such an organic, open way, and made from so many different materials.
We loved our afternoon at the Elemental Sculpture Park – they even had a little tea shop with homemade cake! More importantly, we came away inspired to try and create some art for our own garden, and with loads of ideas to how we might do so. If you would like to see more of the sculptures we saw, please check out our Instagram page.
Since our visit we have already tried our hand and a couple of different sculptures for our own garden. Our Chicken wire and moss toadstool has pride of place in our garden, and we love it, we have also been having a play with cement, which we will be sharing with you soon.
12 comments
Wow! Love the site – I may visit the sculpture park :)
I’m so pleased you like it – the sculpture park is fab, well worth a visit :)
How cool! I love all of the variety, but I think I am with you and like the recycled pieces best! It is so much fun to see what a creative mind can come up with.
It is amazing what people come up with. There were so many there we couldn’t include them all but have put some more on Instagram :)
What amazing sculptures! Love the use of recycled materials especially the stag statue! #CountryKids xx
The stag must look amazing in the moonlight – would love to see it then :)
What a wonderful and interesting place to visit. We used to live near somewhere like this in Yorkshire called the Sculpture Park, it was fab and we really loved it #countrykids
I do love sculpture, especially less conventional ones. We will definitely be going back :)
I wasn’t sure if I wold like this or not, but having scrolled through a couple of times I’ve decided I really do like it. The bucket men and the wheelbarrow may be my favourite. I think it is very clever how they have been places around, mixed into nature and as you say form a giant outdoor gallery. I wonder who will have a garden big enough to buy one? I’ll look forward to seeing your cement version, it sounds very creative. Quite an aside, and I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I love your daughter’s hair, it is such a wonderful colour. Thank you for sharing a very different and interesting park with me on #CountryKids
I love the wheelbarrow too, I’d love to do something similar although think hubby would label it as junk lol. Her hair is lovely isn’t it – sure it changes colour with her mood lol x
This is amazing and I love the tin men with the wheelbarrow. If the weather is fine over the weekend we are off to a sculpture garden and I’m really looking forward to it for some inspiration. I have some chicken wire in the shed so must have a go a making the moss toadstool, super idea!
Hope you enjoy your trip out, let me know if you post your pictures and I’ll come and check them out :)