Fifty years after a young sculptor, at the start of his career, was commissioned to create a galvanised metal woodpecker to stand outside the Bulmers Cider Works in Hereford, he is now working to complete another symbol of this cider producer to stand alongside it.

Walenty Pytel, who lives at Hartleton Lakes, Ross-on-Wye is famous around the world for his creative works of art. Locally, there are the swans and salmon, and, probably his most well known public piece is a fountain which was commissioned by Members of Parliament to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Standing underneath Big Ben in New Palace Yard at the Houses of Parliament it is an impressive reminder of this Polish artist’s skill.

His inspired creations are drawn from nature and transform metal into works of living art. He told the Ross Gazette the reason he likes to create birds is because they only have two legs which gives him a better structure to work with. Much of his work is destined for private collectors and the corporate world, with commissions appearing at Birmingham Airport as well as JCB and Lloyds of London.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the erection of the Bulmers Woodpecker, the new sculpture by Walenty, ‘The Minnow and the Kingfisher’ was commissioned by Hereford Cider Museum. It will be unveiled in July and will stand five metres tall with a two meter span.See the full story in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here