Identical replacement for Isaac’s Apple is well on its way to take pride of place in Grantham’s Wyndham Park

An iconic sculpture to replace one that rotted away in a Grantham park is well on its way to completion and should soon be where it belongs.

Isaac’s Apple was the centrepiece of the sensory garden on the edge of Wyndham Park, carved by sculptor Nigel Sardeson.

It sadly fell victim to rot and decay and eventually collapsed last autumn, leading to fundraising by the Wyndham Park Forum for an identical replacement.

The new sculpture was made possible by a grant of £3,200 from South Kesteven District Council’s SK Community Fund, along with £800 in match funding from the Wyndham Park Forum and £250 from The Arts Society Grantham.

It is again being created by Nigel, who has chosen to instead work with a more durable piece of wood, an oak log from a tree which was felled on the Sunningdale estate.

The original sculpture was carved from the horse chestnut tree which grew in the spot where the sculpture stands, and was carved in-situ from the tree trunk and lower branches. The apple was made out of elm.

Later, because horse chestnut is not a stable wood, the sculpture had to be altered so the base of the arm was not in the ground.

A spokesperson for the Wyndham Park Forum said: “We are pleased to be able to share progress on recreating the new sculpture for the sensory garden.

“We have asked Nigel Sardeson to recreate the sculpture. He has acquired a piece of oak and has started the transformation process.

“It will be made out of one piece, whereas the old sculpture had the apple made out of elm and the hand out of the horse chestnut tree stump.”

It is not yet known when the sculpture will be finished and placed in the sensory garden.