THE unique art of chainsaw carving is likely to be one of the big attractions at this year’s Royal Manx Agricultural Show this weekend.

The show begins on Friday and it’s an event tree surgeon Nick Barlow from St John’s is very much looking forward to.

He has taken up the unusual art of chainsaw carving, transforming tree trunks into works of art such as wizards and wildlife. His huge wooden sculptures are also becoming a popular part of the Manx countryside.

His latest creation - a 7 ft high angel - was unveiled at Mannifest last weekend and he will have “a few surprises” for visitors to the Royal Show in Sulby on Friday and Saturday.

The angel was an unwanted tree trunk which would have otherwise been used for firewood. For Nick, chainsaw art is about conserving the natural landscape and making the most of natural resources.

Nick said, "Everyone thinks being a tree surgeon means you love cutting down trees but most of us have a soft spot for them. Rather than a tree being felled and burned it can be transformed into something new,” he said.

Nick’s first venture into chainsaw carving was when he was asked to to carve a wizard out of a dead oak tree in a friend’s garden. The 12 foot high wizard now sits by the roadside in Sulby Glen.

Nick is hoping to put together a wooden wonderland exhibition of sculptures in time for Christmas 2010. “I would like to make this my profession.”

What's happening at this year's Royal Show?

For a full timetable -  see separate article