The Rauceby Boggart bench was one of several pieces that were made to be sited in, and to reflect the villages of North and South Rauceby In Lincolnshire. The project was set up by North Kesteven District Council. The intention was to invite members of the public who were interested in carving, or wanted to learn to carve, to come along and have the unique experience of carving alongside experienced sculptors. This was how I learned to carve on the 'Car Dyke' bench 3 years earlier, and it was satisfying to be able to help make the same thing available to others. I was the coordinator who was there every session,(for the 5 weekends that we worked on it) and who along with Sculptors Simon Todd and Jason Thompson, facilitated the carving sessions for the novice volunteer carvers. Most Volunteers had little or no experience of carving, and as always , it was rewarding to see their confidence grow as they learnt to use the chisels, then find the forms that they were imagining, then come forward with suggestions for what else could be included. We started with a very basic specification that it needed to reflect the villages in some way, and so we had a shepherd with his sheep at one end, It then became a timeline, with the protruding branches halfway down, becoming landmark buildings from the villages, and below the village, underground, we carved a sheeps skull to suggest the wealth coming from sheep. Further along a hard edged combine harvester, and giant round straw bales represents the present agricultural emphasis being on crops, with the future being a scroll unfolding. The 'Boggart' is a local elf like figure, who lives underground, popping out to steal useful things and create mischief and mayhem, when we heard about him, we had to find a way of including him. Various characters and details are tucked into spots around the bench...so for the full story you will need to visit it.... For further information as to its whereabouts - click on the button below!