A new sculpture at the centre of Priory Memorial Gardens was given the thumbs up at its official unveiling by Royston’s deputy mayor Councillor Vera Swallow.

A new sculpture at the centre of Priory Memorial Gardens was given the thumbs up at its official unveiling by Royston’s deputy mayor Councillor Vera Swallow.

Sculptor Dennis Heath carved the artwork from a purple beech tree that was vandalised in 2012 and finally died earlier this year after being damaged beyond repair.

Dennis attended with North Herts district councillors Peter Burt, Tony Hunter and Fiona Hill attended the event along with Royston Town councillor Lindsay Davidson, town clerk Susan Thornton-Bjork, John O’Conner and members of his team who maintain the park.

The district council, who own Priory Memorial Gardens, together with Royston Town Council’s Naturally Royston Working Party, worked in partnership to give the tree a new lease of life, John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance also donated £1,500 towards the costs.

Councillor Peter Burt said: “The sculpture is a wonderful way of salvaging at least some of the distinguished tree, and it is now a piece of public artwork that we hope will be admired in the gardens for years to come.”

Susan Thornton-Bjork said: “It’s a wonderful way of salvaging part of the tree which has been in the Memorial Gardens since they were developed.

“It is very well carved with far more to look at when you get up close to it, I’m sure it will be admired by all who used the gardens.”