This summer, the Bishop's Palace in Wells will be home to massive willow sculptures.

The artwork will be displayed through a medieval window in the Grade II listed gardens of The Bishop's Palace and Gardens starting from July.

Created by artist Martin Staniforth, the sculptures represent hope and natural progression, symbolising the cycle of life and renewal. Along with the sculptures, a contemplative soundscape, in collaboration with composer Fionn Connolly, will also be featured. The audio will incorporate guitar and piano elements along with other sounds such as the sculptor's breath, birdsong captured in Westcountry woodland and Brazilian rainforest, and the unsettling noise of a falling tree.

On the weekend of July 22/23, visitors are invited to engage with the music, and there will also be dance performances orchestrated by Mandy Redmond from Adventures In Dance. The sculptor, Martin Staniforth, explained the concept behind the sculptures, stating, "These sculptures explore how an ending can also be a beginning."

He further expressed that the termination of one thing often paves the way for the growth of another, whether it's an individual, a structure, or a species. This, according to him, mirrors the life and death cycles, our position in the natural world, and ecological evolution.

Staniforth named the sculpture 'Scension' to represent a sense of uncertainty – are the forms ascending or descending? Rising or falling? Emerging or vanishing?

Staniforth also mentioned the parallel to the Somerset landscape, which was once abundant with Elm trees until the outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease. Following this, Ash trees thrived, but now they are facing extinction due to Ash Dieback Disease. Other species will take their place, likely Sycamore, and possibly Willow. The sculptures are crafted from Westcountry willow withies at Staniforth's workshop in Devon and will be transported in parts to Wells for assembly and installation.

As a part of this project, workshops were conducted in collaboration with Headway, a charity for individuals with acquired brain injuries. Participants had the opportunity to explore the concepts behind the sculptures through claywork, drawing, and discussion, using nature's regeneration as a metaphor for personal lives.

'Scension' is one of the 11 artworks by South West Sculptors that will be on display from early July until September 24.