VISITORS to Haverfordwest may have noticed some new additions to the banks of the river – a series of new bronze sculptures.

The three bronze sculptures resemble bronze trees with woven willow shapes in their branches, and are placed at points on the Western Cleddau as it runs through the county town.

This is the first new permanent public art work in the town for 60 years, and the town will host an opening event to mart it on Saturday, June 30 between 2pm and 4pm at the Riverside Shopping Centre.

At the event, Haverfordwest Mayor Sue Murray will unveil an interpretation panel, which is adjacent to the pedestrian bridge in the Riverside Shopping Centre at 2pm.

During the afternoon there will be free drop-in art workshops along the riverfront, with opportunities to weave mini willow creations and make origami butterflies.

A presentation documenting the development of the sculptures can be viewed at the spacetocreate base opposite Wilkinsons, and Paddlewest will provide free canoe trips to view the sculptures from the river.

A guest appearance of the puppet dog created by Toby Downing for River of Lights in 2017 will promenade between the sites, accompanied by Welsh folk musician Peter Stacey.

Studio Weave, an award winning art and architecture studio was commissioned to develop the designs for the series of river-borne sculptures, which are titled 'Cleddau Reaches'.

The sculptures are made of bronze, and the bough tree forms were cast by local foundry MB Fine Arts.

Michelle Cain, a local artist, made the willow ‘gifts’ which are installed in the boughs of the sculptures. These are, like the willow and reed beds of Fortunes Frolic, temporary in nature and as such an invitation for future renewal.

The event marks the official end of a 3-year art and regeneration initiative in Haverfordwest focused on the river and its environs, supported by the Arts Council of Wales through its Ideas: People: Places Programme.

To find out more about the Opening Event and the River Sculptures visit thelabhaverfordwest.org