Local landscape gardener Matt Honeyborne and his wife Rachel have created a unique storytelling sculpture trail on the grounds of their farm in Chester.
The couple were inspired to create the path, including eight wooden sculptures, to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after their eight-year-old daughter Olivia was treated there in 2020.
Olivia was born with a hole in her heart and required surgery at age three. During the procedure, Matt and Rachel were overwhelmed by the care they received from the hospital staff and after Olivia made a full recovery, they wanted to give back to help other families in the future.
Looking for a way to raise money for the hospital over a longer period of time, Matt wrote a children’s book called Fudge’s Evening Adventure with his close friends Simon and Liz O’Rourke.
Olivia’s miniature dachshund Fudge plays the main character and takes readers on a magical journey through Lower Farm to meet its residents, including a pony, a barn owl and Olivia herself.
The trio completed the book in 2021 and, given its popularity, Matt and Rachel decided to create a sculpture trail on the grounds of their farm for families and fans of the book to enjoy.
The couple took the form of the animals Fudge encounters in the book and also enlisted the skills of Simon, a professional wood sculptor, to bring their vision to life.
Simon spent several months handcrafting the sculptures from scrap wood and tree stumps, and since the book was published the couple have raised over £13,000 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
The trail is open exclusively to guests from across the UK visiting the four cottages on their farm – The Shippon, The Hay Barn, The Parlour and The Dairy. Matt extensively refurbished the cottages himself five years ago using his experience as a landscape gardener and they are now available to book through Sykes Holiday Cottages.
Guests can also enjoy the wildlife cameras during their stay.
Matt Honeyborne, editor of Fudge’s Evening Adventure and owner of Lower Farm, said: “We are eternally grateful to the staff involved in Olivia’s care and writing the book was an opportunity for us to give something back to Alder Hey so they can help other families in their time of need.
“Our cheeky miniature dachshund Fudge was the perfect character for the story, as was the area’s diverse wildlife. After discussions with our writer Liz, we created a heartwarming story depicting life on Lower Farm.
“It is a fantastic feeling to give something back not only to the hospital but also to the families who come to us on the sculpture trail and stay in our holiday homes. We can’t wait to welcome even more visitors this summer to enjoy the sculptures.”
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