The last one . . .

. . . well not really, there are a few more, but the last one from me for the moment, as we're off to France on Wednesday.

This is at Wetheral, just outside Carlisle and is called Flight of Fancy. It is very different from the other Benchmarks and the sculptor has taken the idea of Sculpture for Sitting very seriously - it's a bench!

It really is a riverside seat and a lovely path goes past it towards a castle. Incidentally, this was actually the landing stage for a ferry, which used to take people across the river at this point.

The sculpture is very skilfully carved by a real Stone Mason, Tim Shutter. He took his ideas from a soaring viaduct which is to the right of the seat and a castle just round the corner, as well as links with St Constantine's cell and the local church close by. And so he tried to create the feeling of an outdoor cathedral, with angel's wings and carved prayer cushions. It was difficult to take a photograph which conveyed an idea of the grandeur of the seat and also its setting. There is a better picture of the seat itself  here. I'm sure you'll be impressed with the intricacy of the carving.

The seat is very close to the river bank and apparently it is regularly submerged by the river in flood and has developed its own plant community. A real blending into the landscape!