Willow Sculpture Trail Opens at Snugbury's as Cheshire Farm Celebrates 40 Years
The new attraction recreates some of Snugbury's best-loved straw sculptures in willow to mark the farm's 40th anniversary.
By Cheshire Live
A new willow sculpture trail has opened at Snugbury's Ice Cream near Nantwich, giving visitors the chance to explore a collection of handcrafted artworks inspired by some of the farm's most memorable creations from the past four decades.
The trail has been launched to celebrate Snugbury's 40th anniversary and features six willow sculptures based on some of the attraction's most popular giant straw displays. Among them are a towering Paddington Bear, Peter Rabbit and other characters that have become favourites with visitors over the years.
Located on the A51 at Hurleston, just outside Nantwich, Snugbury's has become one of Cheshire's best-known family attractions, drawing thousands of visitors each summer for its ice cream, sunflower fields and annual straw sculptures. The giant creations have become a tradition at the farm, with a different design unveiled almost every year.
The new sculptures have been created by willow artist Sarah Gallagher-Hayes, who has worked under the name Twigtwisters for almost three decades. Working from her studio in Dunham-on-the-Hill, she specialises in large-scale willow sculptures and was commissioned to recreate the farm's best-known displays using sustainable Somerset willow.
Gallagher-Hayes said each sculpture takes around two weeks to complete, with the willow woven to create shape, movement and character. She also handcrafted details such as Paddington Bear's distinctive hat and suitcase.
The sculpture trail is free to visit and winds through the farm's sunflower fields, allowing visitors to see the artwork up close while exploring the colourful summer display. The attraction is open daily throughout the season, giving families an opportunity to enjoy the sculptures, take photographs and experience one of Cheshire's most recognisable visitor attractions.
Kitty Hill, who runs the business alongside her sisters Hannah and Cleo, said the anniversary provided the perfect opportunity to revisit some of the farm's most popular straw sculptures in a new and lasting way. She said many visitors have already shared memories of seeing the original creations over the years.
Snugbury's has grown from a family dairy farm into one of Cheshire's most popular rural visitor destinations since opening in the 1980s. While the giant straw sculptures have become a hallmark of the business, the new willow trail offers visitors another way to celebrate the attraction's 40-year history while showcasing the craftsmanship behind the latest artistic installations.
The willow sculpture trail is now open daily at Snugbury's throughout the summer.