You’d be as mad as a hatter to miss this fantastic new sculpture in Hotham Park. And the recent addition to the surroundings was greeted with delight from kids, mums and dads over the Easter weekend as youngster lined up to pose for a picture at the superbly crafted installation.
The magnificent hand-carved wooden sculpture was crafted by Simon Groves and shows a scene from the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party from the story of Alice in Wonderland.
You will find it in the “Mad Hatter’s Copse”, which is to the east of the Mary Macfie pavilion, itself a relatively new addition to the park. The design is an 8ft by 2.5ft table with clocks in each corner, playing cards down the centre and high mushrooms as seating, with the Mad Hatter as a separate figure.
The fact that the sculpture is in place and welcomed as a fantastic addition to the park is down to the Hotham Park Heritage Trust.
A spokesman said: “It will be a permanent feature in the Park and we hope it will be enjoyed by everyone for many years to come.
“The theme of Alice in Wonderland was chosen by local schoolchildren and the full cost of this sculpture was met from funds raised at the Hotham Park Heritage Trust Country Fair which was held over the first weekend of August 2016.
“We hope to introduce more sculptures under the fairytale theme in the future but urgently need people like you to get involved and help us make our events even bigger and better in order to achieve this. Please do not hesitate to contact us as you will be most welcome.”
In addition to the sculpture, Hotham Park Heritage Trust have raised £52,455 to date for the following:
£4,355 for seating and lighting in the Mary Macfie Pavilion
£18,000 towards the Children’s Playground
£6,700 towards the cost of restoration of Hotham House Clock Tower
£9,000 to purchase nine park benches
£1,400 towards lighting for the bandstand
£13,000 towards plants and improvements for the ornamental pond
You can get in touch via [email protected], or call 01243 863141.
Picture: NEIL COOPER
