FOR over a decade, the Willow Man was an iconic landmark on the Somerset skyline – welcoming and bidding farewell to drivers as they passed on the M5.

Created by artist Serena de la Hey in 2000, the Willow Man made his home in a field south of junction 23, near Bridgwater.

He was commissioned by South West Arts as part of celebrations during the Year of the Artist and landowner, the Moate family, costing around £15,000.

The Willow Man was a celebration of the traditional Somerset craft of weaving and the role of the medium in the county’s ecological and craft traditions.

He was initially intended to be in place for around three years but became a fixture of the landscape for drivers and residents alike, and his stay was extended several times.

Due to the elements – and the nature of willow – Ms de la Hey carried out several refreshers, remaking damaged parts and ensuring he looked good.

But as county authorities faced ever-growing financial constraints, the Willow Man fell into disrepair as he aged, eventually becoming a shadow of his former self.

Plans were periodically surfaced to ‘right’ the Willow Man, including in 2018, when Ms de la Hey was part of an unsuccessful fundraising to restore and maintain the sculpture, which had become an icon of Somerset.

And in 2023, Somerset Council received £35,000 from National Highways to produce a report on how the Willow Man might be repaired or enhanced using more robust materials, and relocated to a more suitable location.

However, after the completion of the report, residents were simply told the project would cost around £1 million – and was unfeasible in a challenging financial climate.

But what were the plans discussed? What did the report say?

Now, your Somerset Leveller has a copy of the previously-confidential report carried out in 2023, by WSP.

The Willow Man was enjoyed by Somerset residents – and drivers passing through – for years. Picture: Somerset Leveller

It details potential new locations for the Willow Man, as well as photographs of a potential new willow sculpture (WS) – instead made using metal.

Describing the Willow Man as an “emblem of Somerset regional identity and a notable landmark”, the report details how the “plan is now to remove the existing sculpture and potentially erect a new WS in a new location more suitable to the current landscape”.

It went on: “The aim is that the sculpture would be constructed with more resilient materials to improve the expected longevity of the installation.

“A new site is also preferred, as the current site is now visually encroached by the built form of northern Bridgwater, progressed since the original WS’s erection in 2000.

“The aim is to provide a more rural backdrop helping to maximise the visual impact of the new art installation.”

But where did the report conclude a new sculpture should go?

Well, it identified a ‘study area’ for locations, east of the southbound M5 carriageway east of Bridgwater and south/south west of the King Sedgemoor Drain.

The report suggested a range of potential locations for the new Willow Man in Somerset. Picture: Somerset Council/NH/WSP

The study area was made up of 15 fields, with six points of possible siting for the sculpture, which were analysed using criteria including visibility from the road, access for maintenance etc, with a final recommended then selected.

This was in a field near Summerway Drove, on the opposite side of the motorway from East Bower, which had “a clear line of sight from the M5” and easy access from a nearby public right of way.

And what of the new sculpture itself?

The experts said the new sculpture – though no design was finalised – would be created using more long-lasting materials, such as Cor-Ten Steel, which was used in the construction of the Angel of the North, and would stand at a maximum height of 15.3 metres – around 3m higher than the original Willow Man.

“After several years of exposure to weather, Cor-Ten Steel develops a rust-like appearance,” the report said.

“This both eliminates the need for painting and provides a wood-like appearance, which mirrors the appearance of the original WS while providing a more robust construction.”

Photographs of a ‘concept design’ were included, though it is not clear who or where it was made, which we have combined with AI to produce a visual representation of how the new sculpture may have looked.

Prototypes were created of a Willow Man made from metal… Picture: Somerset Council/NH/WSP

So why hasn’t the Willow Man been resurrected?

The simple answer is money. A number of reports in 2024 claimed the repair or reinstallation of the sculpture would cost around £1 million.

The report does not mention costs, but the fact is, no one has the necessary funding to bring him back.
But all is not lost.

A Somerset Council spokesperson said the authority would be willing to work with anyone who wanted to start work on reinstalling the beloved Willow Man.

“Somerset Council recognises the affection that people across the county have for the Willow Man, and that is why we helped secure external funding for detailed feasibility work,” they said.

“Those studies confirmed both the public’s strong attachment to the sculpture and the significant costs involved in repairing, recreating or relocating it – estimated at over £1 million.

“As outlined, the council must focus its limited resources on essential services, and we cannot justify committing public funds or staff time to take this project forward.

“Since the feasibility work was completed, no organisation has come forward with a viable, fully funded proposal to rebuild or re‑imagine the Willow Man.

“However, if a business, community organisation or consortium wished to take the lead, whether through sponsorship, fundraising or an alternative vision, we would be very happy to share the feasibility work and support them in exploring what might be possible.”

Could the Willow Man make a comeback? We certainly hope so. And if you think could help – get in touch.
For he is much missed not only in Somerset but up and down the country…

READ MORE: Bridgwater news from your Somerset Leveller

How a revamped, metal Willow Man might have looked from the M5 through Somerset. Picture: Somerset Leveller