SOMETHING magical is happening at Royal Victoria Country Park.
There are some new visitors among the dog walkers and children on scooters.
Fairies, a dragon, a wizard, a castle and more have sprung up in the 200 acre park.
They are part of a project to give new life to an ancient cedar tree which had to be felled having become diseased.
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The tree had stood for more than 140 years. Now its stump and remaining wood are being transformed into a gorgeous fairy garden, including a super-size picnic table, made from a 20 foot giant sequoia redwood trunk.
A wizard stands guard over the site, while the fairy on top of the tree is reading to the dragon.
The garden will be officially unveiled at a grand opening on April 14, at 3pm, with activities including facepainting, music and crafts, but it is already impressing visitors to the park.
Neil Glasspool from Southampton said: “My four-year-old was really exited when she saw the castle and the rest of the carvings.
"It looks like a lot of effort is going into making it a really magical place.”
The transformation has been funded and carried out by The Fair Ways Foundation, which delivers a range of services to children and young people, including social care, support, training and education.
The Fair Ways Foundation commissioned professional wood sculptor Chris Bain to carve the stump into the medieval theme and, with the support of students and staff from three Fair Ways schools, has cleared the surrounding area and installed the picnic area, again created from the felled timber.
Hampshire County Council’s executive member for recreation and heritage, Councillor Sean Woodward, said: “From the remains of our much-loved, iconic cedar tree which was over 140 years old, an amazing work of art has emerged – a medieval castle with dragons and fairies. I can’t wait to see the finished garden and look forward to seeing families enjoying it."
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