Willow Man set for £18,000 makeover (From Somerset County Gazette)
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Willow Man set for £18,000 makeover
11:00am Friday 21st September 2012 in News
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Artist Serena De La Hey with Amanda Matthews, right, of Yarlington
THE iconic Willow Man which watches over drivers on the M5 in Somerset is getting a spruce-up.
Drivers had complained that the arms of the popular art installation had been thinning out and now officials have agreed on an £18,000 facelift.
Creator Serena de la Hey began work on the 12-metre-high figure’s head and arms this week, ahead of a total rebuild over the next year.
Serena said: “They’re more or less down to the metal framework so I am going up in a cherry-picker to reweave those areas, using local willow from Stoke St Gregory.
“So many people have come to me asking when he’s going to be repaired so I’m very happy we can finally go ahead with this work.”
The cost of refurbishing the landmark is being met by Hallam Land Management Ltd, Yarlington Housing Group and Sedgemoor District Council.
FreeSpeech? says...
11:46am Fri 21 Sep 12
Fantastic asset for Somerset & may he last forever.