Spa town branches out with tribute to Tour de France

But council officials were faced with cutting down the 65ft Elm tree on Montpellier Hill after it died. Now, however, it will be given a new lease of life after a public vote carried out by Harrogate Borough Council led to overwhelming support for the tree to be carved into a chainsaw sculpture themed around the Tour de France, which arrives in Yorkshire next summer.

While the sculpture’s exact design has yet to be finalised, work began yesterday to cut off its branches and cut back its trunk, which will be transformed into the artwork within sight of the finishing line of a stage of the famous bike race that finishes in Harrogate.

Renowned chainsaw sculptor, Mick Burns, has been commissioned to produce the Tour de France-themed work. He has already created tree chainsaw sculptures including a Marlin, a Kiwi and a Maori bench close to the New Zealand Garden in the town’s Valley Gardens.

The arrival of the Tour De France’s Grand Départ in Yorkshire is expected to attract two million spectators and 2,000 journalists, bringing an estimated £100m boost. The route will set off from Leeds to Harrogate on July 5 before starting in York and finishing in Sheffield the following day.

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