Graham Jones wood carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands
There is many wooden carving sculptures across Birmingham and the West Midlands region by local woodcarver Graham Jones. There is collection in Selly Oak Park. Recent ones have been installed in Hall Green and Swanshurst Park. In the past he's made ones for the Lickey Hills Country Park and Jephson Gardens, Leamingon Spa.
Graham Jones | Wood Carver
He has over 30 years experience of creating public wood carvings. Many of them can be found in Birmingham, and other areas.
Copper Beech Tree bench and snail
Location: Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa.
Wooden carving from an oak tree that was felled in 2013 in Jephson Gardens in Leamington Spa. Seen near the Parade and River Leam. It was carved by Graham Jones from a copper beech tree. The tree had been there from the 1840s to 2013.
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The Spirit of the Woods
Location: Lickey Hills Country Park, on Bilberry Hill. Not far from the Lickey Hills Visitor Centre.
A carved wooden sculpture called The Spirit of the Woods. Made by Graham Jones in 1993. Part of a Sculpture Trail. The sculpture trail was first commissioned in 1991 by Birmingham City Council and the Arts Council.
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Galton Valley Owl
Location: Opposite the Galton Valley Pumping Station on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Old Mainline (Wolverhampton Level). Near Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick.
Probably installed in 2023. Close to The Galton Valley Canal Heritage Area.
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Owl Totem Pole
Location: Elmdon Park, Solihull
The totem pole was created from ideas put forward by local schools, after an Oaks and Shires event in 2004.
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Twitters
Location: Elmdon Park, Solihull
'Twitters' came to Elmdon Park in 2003 and is carved from a tree that was removed from the park.
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Swanshurst Park Centenary Pole
Location: Swanshurst Park, near Yardley Wood Road, closer to Moseley than Billesley, in view of the Moseley New Pool.
A wooden totem with a painted black swan on the side and a crow on top. Installed in 2023 for the Friends of Swanshurst Park group for the Centenary of Swanshurst Park (1923 - 2023).
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Hall Green
Location: Greet Mill Meadow, Shire Country Park, near Stratford Road, Hall Green.
Installed in 2022 for the Hall Green's Keepin' It Clean litter buster group.
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Be green because we're Hall Green let's make a difference
Location: Between Stratford Road and Reddings Lane on York Road in Hall Green. Behind the Apple Green petrol station.
Installed in 2023 for the Hall Green's Keepin' It Clean litter buster group.
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Dragon Bench
Location: Outside of Hall Green Library on the Stratford Road.
The Dragon Bench was carved by Graham Jones in 2002. It was unveiled in February 2003, on the 40th anniversary of the library. May have been inspired by the dragon Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit (Tolkien lived down the road in the hamlet of Sarehole in the early 1900s as a small boy). May have been done in association with pupils of Hall Green School.
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Chinn Brook Meadows
Location: Chinn Brook Meadows, Shire Country Park. Near Highfield Road, Yardley Wood.
Carved from the remains of a tree trunk. Image of a swan and flowers on it, plus a hand.
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Roots and Branches
Location: Handsworth Park.
Wooden carving by Graham Jones & cast in metal by Tim Tolkien.
Four trees with extended roots on the ground in steel which can be used as seats. Roots extend out above the ground forming seating with the inner space proving a meeting place. Made in 2019-20. Part of the Handsworth Park Arts Trail.
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The Commonwealth of Nations
Location: St Thomas' Peace Garden.
These appear to have been made for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in mind. The Commonwealth replaced the British Empire in name in 1949. There was also a wooden table here, and mosaics on the ground.
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Lapal - Welcome to Selly Oak Park
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Bench in memory of Geoff Bartlett, Found Friend of Selly Oak Park
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Deer or kangaroo
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Carved log bench
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Nuthatch
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Selly Oak Park bench
Location: Selly Oak Park.
Part of the sculpture trail for the Friends of Selly Oak Park in 2011.
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Photography by Elliott Brown