For the last three years we have had an exhibition of Zimbabwean stone sculptures in the Gardens at this time of year – this year we move closer to home with an exhibition of Stevenage wood sculptures. Those who know the Gardens will be familiar with Dennis Heath’s work – whenever a tree dies we ask Dennis to transform its trunk into a permanent sculpture that somehow represents a Lytton family, or garden, story. Last year he transformed an upright cedar bough into a jousting knight, to represent my father’s illustrious history on the Bank Holiday field of combat.
This month, some 100 of Dennis’ – and his colleague Dave Flemons’ – sculptures will be on display throughout Knebworth House’s 28 acres of formal Gardens. The pieces represent a wide range of figurative and abstract subjects, with woodland and wild animals a specialty. Many of the pieces will be for sale, including Dennis’ popular carved seating and benches – perfect love seats for your summer garden.
The artists work with a range of different sized chainsaws to create the work – including unusual “mini” chainsaws to fine-tune the subtleties of the carving. Demonstrations will take place at various times throughout the exhibition – full details will be on our website www.knebworthhouse.com. I am hoping that Dennis will have time to work on a new upright bough we have next to the tennis court. I envisage it becoming my grandmother, Hermione, pausing on her afternoon walk to watch her great-grandchildren playing happily on the same sunny court she and her brothers used to play on a century ago.
Henry Lytton Cobbold
www.knebworthhouse.com