Hexham Totem Poles

If you're creating a flood defence system and want to titivate it up, then naturally you want to be adding some totem poles. This was the exact plan of The Environment Agency's scheme at Hexham who were looking to prevent large debris from being washed down the Cockshaw Burn.

The Hexham Totem Poles are located on the outskirts of Sele Park, but they are just a short wander from Hexham Abbey. They were created by a Gloucestershire artist called Matthew Fedden and his remit was to create a structure that would be both robust and practical to maintain, but also providing a bit of a visual enhancement to the area.

Matthew's design is of four oak totem poles that have been carved and then given some colour using a blow torch. Apparently two of the poles have stained glass and prisms to create some coloured light.

The Hexham Totem Poles are really easy to find. If you start from the Abbey, then just head down the edge of the park and in front of Sele Primary School. Then you will see a little gap in the hedge that with a path down towards the Cockshaw Burn. All on a solid path. Here is a map if you need it.

Just around a 500m walk from Hexham Abbey.

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