Woodpecker

Perched beside the path through Boscombe's Woodland Walk, this hand-carved wooden woodpecker is one of a small flock of wildlife sculptures cut with a chainsaw by artist Tom Harvey, who works professionally as Carver Harvey.

Part of a wildlife trail

The woodpecker joins a scatter of carved creatures along Woodland Walk, the tree-lined nature reserve that runs from Boscombe's high street up to the clifftop above the beach. Look out too for Harvey's peacock butterfly, wood mouse, stag beetle and woodlouse carvings nearby, plus his larger Tree of Life sculpture and a carved welcome marker, all added during the reserve's 2025–26 refurbishment, which was funded through the Towns Fund and Community Infrastructure Levy and also brought a wildlife pond, sensory garden and new trail signage to the site.

Visiting

There's no gate or charge, the carving sits in open parkland, so it's free to see whenever you're passing. It's an easy stop if you're walking through Boscombe, best combined with a look at Woodland Walk itself or the peacock butterfly and wood mouse carvings further along the same path. For more ideas nearby, see our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.

Woodpecker good to know

What is the Woodpecker sculpture in Boscombe?

It's a chainsaw-carved wooden sculpture of a woodpecker, one of several wildlife carvings by artist Tom Harvey installed along Woodland Walk, the nature reserve linking Boscombe high street to the clifftop above the beach.

Who carved the Woodpecker sculpture?

It's the work of chainsaw sculptor Tom Harvey, who trades as Carver Harvey and has carved wildlife pieces from wind-fallen timber along Woodland Walk, including this woodpecker, a peacock butterfly, a wood mouse, a stag beetle and a woodlouse, alongside a larger Tree of Life sculpture and a carved welcome marker.

Is the sculpture free to visit?

Yes. It stands in open parkland on Woodland Walk with no admission charge, so you can see it at any time as part of a walk through the reserve.

Where exactly is it?

It's beside the path through Woodland Walk Nature Reserve in Boscombe, the wooded walkway that connects Boscombe's high street with the clifftop and Overcliff Drive above the beach.