Ref.10633RABBITS, tortoises, fish and dragons are all being expertly carved with chainsaws out of chunks of wood up to three tonnes in weight at Westonbirt Arboretum this week.

Sculpture at the Festival of Wood is the biggest event of it's kind in the UK and 11 carvers, who started on Monday, are using their skills to transfer delicate and fluid designs on to, oak, ash and beech until the weekend.

All the wood comes from trees, which are dead, diseased or a danger to the public, on the grounds at Westonbirt.

The creations will then be auctioned off on Bank Holiday Monday in aid of the charity Tree Aid, who work to reverse environmental decline in Africa by planting trees.

Some sculptures can fetch upwards of £5,000 and since the event started in 1992 more than £100,000 has been raised for the charity.

Organiser and sculptor Dave Johnson: "Everything is working with us including the weather. This is the best value for money visit in the West Country."

Mick Burns, who gave up his day job as a forestry instructor to become a carver, said he takes his inspiration from nature.

"Like so many other artists I take my inspiration from the shapes and forms nature has to offer," he said.

"Although in some ways I tend more towards the unconventional in that I find objects like animal skulls fascinating from a sculptural point of view.

"It was from this source I decided on the subject for my first opportunity to carve as a guest at Westonbirt 1999.

"I produced a giant roe deer skull which subsequently featured on the cover of Woodworking Magazine."

Westonbirt marketing manager Mel Oley said it was amazing to watch the artists at work.

She said: "There is the noise and saw dust flying everywhere which is incredible because from the chaos you can start to see how it is taking shape.

"They start off with chain saws and then they work down to finer tools depending on the design.

"The designs are up for people to see so even at an early stage is possible to see what the finished product will look like."

Sculpture@Westonbirt is the longest running event at the arboretum and was started in 1994 with ten carvers.

It is part of the Festival of Wood, which runs from Saturday until Monday over the bank holiday weekend.

More than 120 craftsmen displaying everything from violins, baskets, decoy ducks and papermaking are travelling from all over Britain to make it the UK's largest festival with a wood theme. There will also be birds of prey displays and a Viking re-enactment demonstrating how the Vikings used wood.