Boston Woods Trust nominated the Boston Woods as part of Transported’s On Your Doorstep programme last year. Working in partnership, artist James Sutton was commissioned to create new sculptures for the Woods. James ran a drop-in stone carving workshop at Boston Woods to encourage people of all ages to try stone carving for the first time. The final pieces were unveiled last Friday at Boston Woods by one of their patrons, The Bishop of Lincoln, The Right Revd Christopher Lowson.

The sculptures were inspired by the life and works of Sir Joseph Banks. Sir Joseph Banks was a famous botanist explorer and patron of the sciences with links to this area. He spent his young childhood enjoying the freedom of Revesby Abbey estate, which he inherited aged 21. He developed a lifelong wonder of nature and went on a number of expeditions, the most famous being with Captain Cook on HMS Endeavour. He was granted the Freedom of the Borough of Boston in 1771 and became Recorder of Boston in 1808. His many achievements included Scientific Advisor to Kew Gardens, President of the Royal Society, presiding at the foundation of the Royal Horticultural Society and he was a prime mover in drainage of the Fens.

The sculptures at Boston Woods represent the main passion in his life, collecting, documenting and cultivating plants from all over the world. The shape of the seeds came from sketches in old books documenting the seeds he collected. The seeds/sculptures are designed to be touched, climbed and sat on, hidden away in the woods for people to stumble across.

To see more images from the event, click here. Images taken by Sue Kirk.