COLEFORD.- The Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail celebrates 30 years of commissioning contemporary artworks this July, and marks the occasion with two new permanent commissions by artists Henry Castle and Pomona Zipser.

In Coal Measure Giants, rising British star Henry Castle brings to the surface aspects of what lies hidden beneath the Forest’s surface. Exploring the geological, industrial and sociological aspects of the Forest’s history, visitors will be able to touch the fossilized remains of 300 million year old trees and see the form of the mine shaft sets that provided a livelihood for generations of local freeminers.

Meanwhile, Yaşasin by established Romanian artist Pomona Zipser creates a space and a structure from which to contemplate and observe the ever-changing forest. Berlin-based Zipser’s sculpture has been handcrafted from sweet chestnut felled from the site of the Trail and Zipser has collaborated with local artists and craftsmen to make the sculpture. It makes a thought-provoking and visual connection to the surrounding environment, playing with density, dimensions and colour.

The two works are part of a series of new commissions for the Trail in 2016 and join Andrea Roe’s Sentient Forest and Charcoal Measure by Onya McCausland, which were unveiled earlier this year. The four new commissions add to the Trail’s current collection of 16 permanent and temporary works, some of which date back to the programme’s beginnings in 1986.

Andrew Stonyer, Chair of the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust, commented, “We are privileged to welcome four intriguing and engaging new artworks to the Trail this year, a fitting reflection on the Trail’s 30-year heritage of creating artworks that seek to reveal the Forest of Dean’s hidden histories.

“Whether providing a different perspective through which to navigate and understand the Forest or creating moments of quiet contemplation, for over 30 years the Trail has established itself as a centre for contemporary commissioning.”

Judith Lack, Forestry Commission Recreation Manager, said, “The two new sculptures are a fitting celebration of 30 years of artists on the Trail who have, over the years, sought to reveal the forest’s myriad stories. We look forward to welcoming old and new generations of visitors to learn more about the forest through these unique artworks.”

The Sculpture Trail attracts more than 300,000 visitors every year. Its sculptures seek to show that there’s more to the Forest of Dean than first meets the eye. Amidst beautiful trees and a wide variety of fauna, the artworks reveal the secrets and hidden histories – natural, geological, industrial and sociological – of this unique landscape. The Trail’s collection is deliberately discrete in the woodland, and visitors are encouraged to seek them out or to come across them by chance.

The Sculpture Trail is managed by the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trust in partnership with Forestry Commission England.