The Ashland Water Serpent
Slideshow
Thursday May 22nd 2014 - Job done!
You can't see it all from anywhere. But a small part of the Ashland Water Serpent curves across a grassy opening in Ashland woods ...
You can't see it all from anywhere. But a small part of the Ashland Water Serpent curves across a grassy opening in Ashland woods ...
... while artist Chris Drury relaxes on the completed Ashland Water Serpent ...
... and, in another part of the wood, constructors Drew and Ben have their picture taken by one of the Serpent's many twists and loops
Thursday May 15th 2014 - Many logs to go ...
The end is almost in sight. Construction continues, now in the open spaces of Ashland Woods close to the red route. Still many decisions to make, many logs to move and cut and fix.
The end is almost in sight. Construction continues, now in the open spaces of Ashland Woods close to the red route. Still many decisions to make, many logs to move and cut and fix.
Wednesday May 14th 2014 - Building in confined space
As the ground dries out, moving and positioning the logs becomes a little easier. But the position, length and angle of every single log has to be decided before the log can be cut and then lowered and screwed into place.
As the ground dries out, moving and positioning the logs becomes a little easier. But the position, length and angle of every single log has to be decided before the log can be cut and then lowered and screwed into place.
Tuesday May 13th - Much more timber!
The second load of logs has arrived - thanks to UK Construction Ltd for site access. In front of the cascade of logs, a part-build section of the Serpent,
showing how it is built in layers. And, in the foreground, an assortment of logs, straight and gently curved, from which the next ones to be fixed in place
will be selected.
The second load of logs has arrived - thanks to UK Construction Ltd for site access. In front of the cascade of logs, a part-build section of the Serpent,
showing how it is built in layers. And, in the foreground, an assortment of logs, straight and gently curved, from which the next ones to be fixed in place
will be selected.
Saturday May 10th 2014 - Serpent in landscape
The final form of a short section of the Serpent, with Ashland Vale building site behind.
The final form of a short section of the Serpent, with Ashland Vale building site behind.
Friday May 9th 2014 - Heavy lifting, fine placement
Chris and Drew load logs onto the mini-digger to take them to the next section of the Ashland Water Serpent site. The Ashland Vale construction site is in the background.
Chris and Drew load logs onto the mini-digger to take them to the next section of the Ashland Water Serpent site. The Ashland Vale construction site is in the background.
Thursday May 8th 2014 - Decisions, decisions
What goes where?
What goes where?
Wednesday May 7th 2014 - Artist with chainsaw
Land artist Chris Drury moves in to shape part of the Ashland Water Serpent.
Land artist Chris Drury moves in to shape part of the Ashland Water Serpent.
Tuesday May 6th 2014 - Like making a jigsaw. Only much harder
It's like making a three-dimensional jigsaw from a charcoal sketch of the published object. Using random parts not guaranteed to fit. So they need to have lots of bits (4m long logs!) to hand, to select the right one. Fortunately, as well as a skilled
eye, they also have, as we shall see, a chainsaw. And a mini-digger-lifter.
It's like making a three-dimensional jigsaw from a charcoal sketch of the published object. Using random parts not guaranteed to fit. So they need to have lots of bits (4m long logs!) to hand, to select the right one. Fortunately, as well as a skilled
eye, they also have, as we shall see, a chainsaw. And a mini-digger-lifter.
Friday May 2nd 2014 - Timber, tools - and mud
Deep in Ashland Woods, the Serpent continues to take shape.
Deep in Ashland Woods, the Serpent continues to take shape.
Wednesday April 30th 2014 - The shape emerges
Already we can start to see the form of the Ashland Water Serpent
Already we can start to see the form of the Ashland Water Serpent
Tuesday April 29th 2014 - Timber!
This giant pile of logs is only a part of the timber that will be used to build the Ashland Water Serpent.
This giant pile of logs is only a part of the timber that will be used to build the Ashland Water Serpent.
Monday April 28th 2014 - Work starts
Construction work began today.
The path through the Ashland Woods will be closed for the next 4 weeks to
protect the safety of the public.
Construction work began today.
The path through the Ashland Woods will be closed for the next 4 weeks to
protect the safety of the public.
Photographs by David Baume, Chris Drury (for the model photo) and Phil Emerton (for the overhead photo)
Here is an early model of what is being built - the 140 metre or so long, 1 metre or so in
diameter, body of the mythical Ashland Water Serpent, reconstructed in logs by land artist
Chris Drury and his team .
The Water Serpent will is being built during May 2014. During this time the Ashland Woods
will be closed, for safety.
Return here for news of construction, and for news of the unveiling of the Water Serpent on
the afternoon of May 29th.
diameter, body of the mythical Ashland Water Serpent, reconstructed in logs by land artist
Chris Drury and his team .
The Water Serpent will is being built during May 2014. During this time the Ashland Woods
will be closed, for safety.
Return here for news of construction, and for news of the unveiling of the Water Serpent on
the afternoon of May 29th.
When planning permission was granted for the Ashland development, a sum of money was
agreed for a Public Art Project. The first phase of the project was completed in 2011.
agreed for a Public Art Project. The first phase of the project was completed in 2011.
The project second phase is now compete with the finished Ashland mural.
Also under way is a huge mural being made by Arkade Graphics with local children including
from Charles Warren Academy, on the panels along the south side of the area where building
has started again on Ashland Vale – see the photos.
from Charles Warren Academy, on the panels along the south side of the area where building
has started again on Ashland Vale – see the photos.
The plan of Ashland below shows the A5 at the bottom (south) and the H9 Standing Way
at the top (north). V8 Marlborough Street is at the right (east), beyond it Simpson and the
Grand Union Canal, and V7 Saxon Street at the left (west). The green area is Parks Trust land.
To the right of the footpath under the A5 to Mount Farm is green open space, and of course
the Ashland Lakes. To the left of the footpath is mostly woodland. All this green space
provides a canvas for the Ashland Public Art Project. We look forward to working with the community to develop an exciting and engaging project here.
at the top (north). V8 Marlborough Street is at the right (east), beyond it Simpson and the
Grand Union Canal, and V7 Saxon Street at the left (west). The green area is Parks Trust land.
To the right of the footpath under the A5 to Mount Farm is green open space, and of course
the Ashland Lakes. To the left of the footpath is mostly woodland. All this green space
provides a canvas for the Ashland Public Art Project. We look forward to working with the community to develop an exciting and engaging project here.
The fence by the western end of the top Ashland lake now stops short. The gap marks the
start of a footpath through the Ashland woodland. For the first time in a few years, the
woodland in the south west corner of Ashland can be explored.
start of a footpath through the Ashland woodland. For the first time in a few years, the
woodland in the south west corner of Ashland can be explored.