[MSN] UK. Park's sculpture hauled away by thieves

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Park's sculpture hauled away by thieves


Dan Cordell's work depicted a squirrel, owl and snail.

Large 50kg work is stolen from Harrold-Odell Country Park.

Phot: http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/bed-news?articleid=2929978


Determined thieves sneaked into a Bedfordshire beautyspot to steal a heavy
wooden statue at the weekend.

They struck at Harrold-Odell Country Park on Friday night or Saturday
morning and broke the distinctive work - which depicts a squirrel, an owl
and a snail - from its concrete base.

They then manhandled the 50kg piece nearly half-a-mile before apparently
loading it into a vehicle and escaping.

Lyndsey Bignell, countryside sites officer for the county council, said the
loss of the chainsaw-carved sculpture had come as a blow.

She said: "It's not worth a tremendous amount of money, but we have been
trying to add different features for people as they are walking. It's a
shame that this statue is not going to be here for people to enjoy any more.

"I think someone has seen it and decided it would look good in their garden.
Someone has just taken a fancy to it."

The statue was created by wood-carver Dan Cordell, who used only a chainsaw
to hew it from cherry wood at an event at the Forest of Marston Vale last
September.

His appearance had been sponsored by the county council, and afterwards it
received the three-feet high piece which had taken him a day to complete.

It was stored in a garage for a while and brought out for special events
before it was given a permanent home at the park on the path around the
northern edge of the lake.

But at some point between 6pm on Friday and 9am on Saturday, thieves smashed
it from its foundations and moved it away from the site. They appear to have
used muscle power for part of the job, as vehicles cannot be brought to
within about half-a-mile of the statue's former position.

Mr Cordell expressed surprise at his work's disappearance.

He said: "It's a strange thing to do - it's not something you could sell on,
and it's not valuable.

"It's only the second piece I have had stolen, so it doesn't happen very
often."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sergeant Gary Baldwin at
Riseley Police Station on 01234 275175, or the country park on 01234 720016.
Alternatively, email the country park on hocp at bedscc.gov.uk
Last Updated: 05 June 2007
 
http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/