A FOREST icon has been recreated in English Bicknor – apparently by an artist travelling from Eastern Europe.

The half-size version of the Giant’s Chair sculpture – which used to stand at Beechenhurst before being burnt for charcoal – was allegedly created by Slovakian artist Retep Retseh using oak planted by farmer, the late Ted Gwilliam, to mark the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977.

The story goes he was staying at the Dryslade bed and breakfast in the village run by Daphne Gwilliam and decided to return at Easter to recreate the sculpture.

But bear in mind that Easter Sunday was April 1, and lurking in the name of the artist is that of Bicknor local Peter Hester.