New community-designed carved oak bench unveiled in Otley’s Tittybottle Park

Leeds City Council today unveil a unique hand-carved oak bench, created from a tree previously located near Otley Bridge, in Tittybottle Park.

The bench has been crafted by local artist Shane Green, a specialist in large-scale timber sculpture whose work is celebrated across Yorkshire for its intricate detail and strong connections to natural themes. Shane has produced numerous public artworks across the region, often collaborating with schools and community groups to reflect local identity through wood carving.

For this project, pupils in Year 5 at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School were invited to create design concepts inspired by Otley’s landscape, wildlife and heritage. Their designs were reviewed by Otley Town Mayor and town councillor Paul Carter who selected all the motifs that now feature in Shane Green’s final carving.

The new bench marks the completion of the Otley Bridge footway scheme, an important project delivered to improve safety and accessibility for people walking across the town. A short film documenting the replacement footway construction works and the challenges involved can now be viewed.

Although the tree needed removing for essential safety and accessibility reasons, the council is committed to re-using the timber in a way that would provide long-term value to the community, after also donating timber to the Wharfedale Mens Shed.

The unveiling event was attended by the Town Mayor, the head teacher and participating pupils from St Joseph’s, ward councillors and artist Shane Green.

Leeds City council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, councillor Jonathan Pryor, said: “This project shows how we can turn necessary infrastructure works into opportunities for creativity and community pride. The pupils’ ideas were imaginative and thoughtful, and Shane’s craftsmanship has transformed them into a stunning piece of public art. We are delighted to see this new bench take its place in Tittybottle Park.”

Artist Shane Green, said: “The children’s designs were full of energy and character, and it has been a real pleasure to carve them into something that will be enjoyed for years to come. Giving the former Otley Bridge oak a new role in the town feels incredibly meaningful.”

The Headteacher of St. Joseph's, Luke Gilhooly, said: “It was really exciting to see our children so excited and engaged in this local project and for them to see their designs coming to life is brilliant. We are looking forward to sharing our creations, brought to life by the help of Shane, with the local community.”

While the bench installation is now complete, recent wet ground conditions mean that turfing in the surrounding area will now take place in early spring. The council will also supply Otley in Bloom with plants for them to use in the next month or so. The circular flowerbed maintained by the council will also be reinstated during this time.