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Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled

London SE1 website team

A stunning new hand-carved new bower or shelter has been unveiled in Archbishop's Park.

Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled
Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled
The seating is carved from a single oak trunk
Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled
Michael Penney (Lambeth Council), Helen Lees (chair of the Friends of Archbishop's Park) and Arthur de Mowbray cut a ribbon to unveil the bower
Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled
Hops have been planted around the bower
Archbishop’s Park Bower unveiled
Guests at the unveiling enjoyed slices of celebratory cake

The bower was designed and hand-carved by local craftsman Arthur de Mowbray, whose work can also be seen at Waterloo Millennium Green, Tabard Gardens and the Tate Modern community garden.

The roof is red cedar and the seats and supports have been carved from a single oak tree.

The red cedar is from Cowdrey Park Estate in Sussex and the oak tree is from Hammerwood Park near East Grinstead.

Arthur chose red cedar as it is durable, pliable and lightweight. Red cedar originates from the western seaboard of the USA and Canada, where Native American tribes used it for totem poles and dug-out canoes, part of Arthur's inspiration for the design.

The bower also features a mosaic created by local social enterprise Southbank Mosaics.

The project, funded by a grant from Biffa Awards, was commissioned by the Friends of Archbishop's Park.

The bower has been planted with hops, apricot and white rambling roses selected and planted by Maddie Bell of Bloomingbelles.

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