Fallen tree in Madeley carved into bench and sculpture

A chainsaw artist has created a bench and sculpture from the remains of a fallen Staffordshire tree that could be up to 300 years old.

Rob Dalton was tasked with giving new life to the horse chestnut, which had stood in the village of Madeley.

It fell down during Storm Bert in November, and many locals say they have fond memories of it.

The bench is being dedicated to former borough mayor Barry Panter, who died in a car crash in February.

“I can’t believe the amount of local attention it has got,” Mr Dalton said.

“This tree that’s got so much history to it, is going to live on.”

It used to have a rope swing, which one local said many children had enjoyed over the years.

“When it was coming in to blossom, it was absolutely gorgeous,” one man said.

One woman told BBC Radio Stoke “it was a beautiful tree” – though to be between 200 and 300 years old – and said she had always loved seeing it.

Mr Dalton said he had cut a few discs from branches of the tree, and that people had queued up to save a piece of it.

He began his career as a chainsaw artist after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome in 2018 following his time in the forces.

“Something absolutely fantastic has come out of previous trauma,” he said.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and I get to do jobs like this.

“The people and the sentiment around this sculpture, I have never come across a piece of work that has had so many people interested in it, sharing their stories.”