A willow sculpture trail featuring iconic figures such as a giant Paddington Bear, a Dalek, a dinosaur, and Peter Rabbit has launched for the summer break at Snugburys Ice Cream in Nantwich, Cheshire. The free trail marks four decades of the farm, presenting six recreations of the most beloved straw sculptures from the past 40 years, now crafted in willow.
The Artist Behind the Works
The sculptures are created by artist Sarah Gallagher-Hayes, who has been making willow works for 29 years under the name Twigtwisters. She has a studio in Dunham-on-the-Hill, Cheshire, where she also runs workshops. Sarah said: "I was asked to create the sculptures for the ice cream farm's 40th anniversary. Over the past 40 years they have had a selection of largescale sculptures. The current sculpture is of Paddington standing 50ft high, I made his hat and suitcase."
Sarah, who has also worked for the RHS, English Heritage, the Manchester Flower Show, and TV and film sets, added: "The sculptures are made from Somerset willow, a fantastic sustainable material. They take around two weeks to make. I use the willow like lines of a drawing to create movement and character."
Location and Visitor Experience
The trail is located in a beautiful wild flower meadow at the farm, where families can follow a path through a sunflower field, take photos, and admire the sculptures and bright yellow blooms. It is open daily from 10am to 6pm, and admission is free. Visitors are also invited to treat themselves to an ice cream, with the farm's newest flavour being Miso caramel and brown butter ice cream.
Kitty Hill, who runs the attraction with sisters Hannah and Cleo after taking over the business founded by their parents Chris and Cheryl Sadler, said: "We decided with it being our 40th we would celebrate by recreating customers' favourite straw sculptures out of willow. We’re absolutely delighted to open our new sculpture trail and to welcome visitors to explore it among the beautiful surroundings of our wildflower meadow. The response so far has been fantastic, with many guests sharing fond memories of the sculptures from their time."
Kitty added: "At Snugburys, we’re always looking for ways to create memorable experiences for families and visitors of all ages, and we’re proud to be able to offer the trail as a free attraction. We hope it brings joy and a smile to people’s faces."
Practical Information
Snugburys is located on the A51 in Hurleston, just outside Nantwich in Cheshire. Well-behaved dogs are welcome if kept on leads.
