If You Go Down To The Woods Today

February Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Statues”

Entering the wood sculptor’s fairy domain

On holiday in Wiltshire, we discovered that Stanton Park — a 185-acre country park and nature reserve — could be accessed through a gate in the grounds of our hotel. We’d visited before breakfast to view its lake glimpsed from the hotel’s terrace. After dinner we ventured along one of its woodland paths and came upon a clearing with a wonderful selection of part-worked sculptures.

This one I had to touch. Even at close quarters it looked as if a resin cast. But no, it was wood, sculpted in the most breathtaking detail. And not a name of the artist anywhere.

As the sun descended, and the surrounding trees began to crowd heavy with shadow, I gained the sense that if we stayed…

So we didn’t.

Thanks to Mary Chang Story Writer for the publication, and do check out these writers for fairytale stories that may cause a frisson: Vidya Sury, Dennett, Penny Grubb, Ellie Jacobson, Madeleine McDonald, Jason Edmunds, pockett dessert, Julia A. Keirns, Stuart Aken, Sandi Parsons, Paul Gardner, B.R. Shenoy, Kim McKinney and Susan Alison.

Read more stories from Linda Acaster, or dip into her publication Escape Into History.