A former art student who discovered a talent for chainsaw sculpture has created a magnificent menagerie of woodland creatures.

The collection of giant squirrels, owls and hawks carved by Paul Morris now adorn the grounds of the Pendine Park Care Organisation in Wrexham.

Paul, 55, a member of Pendine’s gardening and maintenance team, wanted to add colour to their 11-acre site on Summerhill Road and give the residents something extra to enjoy.

He is currently working on one of his most ambitious projects yet as he carves out a grizzly bear at the request of proprietor Mario Kreft MBE.

Paul discovered he had chainsaw carving skills quite by accident after deciding to have a go at making an garden owl for his wife’s birthday.

He said: “My wife has lots of porcelain owls that she’s collected over the years. And with her birthday coming up I decided to have a go at carving one using my chainsaw.

“Since that first design I’ve gone on to perfect my technique a fair bit and done all sorts of different designs from squirrels to owls and hawks to field mice.”

Paul who worked as a woodsman at at the National Trust’s Erddig Hall in Wrexham for many years says he uses any storm damaged trees as material for his Pendine Park designs.

He said: “I think it’s nice for the residents to have something different to look at especially when we are using our own damaged trees for the designs.

“The squirrel I designed was made out of a section of ash. We had to cut the tree down as it became infected with a disease but I managed to save a big piece of unaffected tree and used that for the sculpture. It’s almost like trees get a second chance to inspire even when they have come to the end of their natural life.”

Paul has worked at Pendine Park for 15 months and says, although self-taught, he has always liked art.

He said: “It’s not a long process and I can do a fair sized owl for instance in a couple of days. Although the bear I’m doing for Mario Kreft will take me maybe four or five days doing a bit at a time.”

Head gardener Andrew Jones says Paul’s incredible chainsaw carvings add a little magic to the grounds.

He said: “Paul does an incredible job and I think residents, staff and visitors get something out of seeing these fantastic works of art dotted around the grounds.

Mr Kreft said: “I’m particularly looking forward to seeing the bear when it is finished as it will have a very special meaning for me. My late father, Franz Kreft, travelled the world working as a bear and lion trainer and the sculpture will be dedicated to his memory.”