Sculptor's new park opens raising £8,000 for Help for Heroes

Tuesday 12 July 2011

A DORSET sculptor has given a boost to injured war heroes following the opening of a new sculpture park.
Simon Gudgeon donated more than £8,000 raised from the opening of Sculpture by the Lakes at Pallington near Dorchester to Help for Heroes.

The new attraction is the only single artist sculpture park in the country set in 26-acres of lakes, POMS, streams and pools in the Frome Valley.

It is also home to more than 90 species of wildlife and Mr Gudgeon's wife Monique has planted more than 1,500 trees and shrubs to act as frames for the 30 sculptures.

Mr Gudgeon said: “It was very important to incorporate the sculptures into the landscape and actually make them become part of it."
During the first two weeks of its opening last month Sculpture by the Lakes attracted around 1,600 visitors, with their £5 entry fees all donated to Help for Heroes.

Mr Gudgeon said he was pleased to see the park's popularity on open days.

He said: "I was quite surprised actually; it was just really nice how it got better and better as time went on as people got referred to us.
"On the last day of general opening we had 340people.”

Mr Gudgeon, one of Britain's leading contemporary sculptors, handed over a cheque at the opening of phase one of Help for Heroes' personnel recovery and assessment centre at Tedworth House in Wiltshire.

He said: "We were delighted to help this amazing charity.”

"We were overwhelmed by the response to the opening of Sculpture by the Lakes and so pleased we could contribute to Help for Heroes.”

Mr Gudgeon added: "It’s a worthy cause, I believe in them strongly and it’s a cause I hugely admire.”

Visitors to Sculpture at the Lakes must now book online at sculpturebythelakes.co.uk, with the total visitors limited to 30 a day so they can experience the tranquillity of the surroundings.

Mr Gudgeon said: “We are only taking bookings online so we can limit visitor numbers and give them the space and time to fully absorb and appreciate the experience.”