Spectacular steel trees, created by one of the UK’s top sculptors and galvanized by Pillar-Wedge Ltd, have taken root at two entrances to a public cycle-way near Wigan.

The sculptures form a pair of archway features giving access to the Green Heart Cycle-way at Hindley, which is used by cyclists, horse riders and walkers.

Local sculptor Clare Bigger, who has designed many commercial and privately-commissioned works for customers throughout the country – including the dramatic ‘Spirit of Wigan’ – worked closely with Pillar-Wedge’s customer, Trapp Forge at Simonstone, Burnley, to complete her latest eye-catching artworks.

Bill Carter of Trapp Forge said: “The trees were made from hollow steel tube sections of 75mm and 50mm diameters and also some three-millimetre steel plate. Each of the four trees incorporated in the design is about five metres tall and they were made and galvanized in sections.”  The steelwork was then galvanized for maximum long-tern protection against corrosion and damage.

Pillar-Wedge Ltd of Heywood, has become something of a specialist in galvanizing steel trees – another project it successfully completed was Burnley’s award-winning ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ musical sculpture.

The ‘Singing Ringing Tree’ was recently named winner of the Galvanizing Association’s 2008 Galvanizing in Engineering Award and in 2007 it won a national excellence award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).