One of Europe's largest parks has just opened a fun new sculpture trail perfect for the whole family.
The new attraction has been created by Yorkshire chainsaw artist, Shane Green.
Known as the 'Yorkshire Carver', Green has transformed felled beech trees into gorgeous sculptures of owls, herons, butterflies, fish and more.
He has created a total of 16 tree sculptures for visitors to discover and marvel at throughout the 700-acre park.
Image: Leeds City Council
This project not only provides a wholesome day out for the whole family as they venture through the woodland to say hello to the friendly creatures, but it has also given the native trees a new lease of life.
The trail begins at the entrance to Roundhay Park on Park Lane, guiding visitors through Ram Wood to the wildflower meadow past the castle folly.
There are eight sculptures marked on the trail map, with another eight linked pieces located nearby, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the park - so make sure you're wearing comfortable footwear!
Image: Leeds City Council
Shane Green, a local from Otley, has previously represented Great Britain at the international chainsaw carving competitions in America, and it's easy to see why as his work stuns from photographs alone.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Green expressed his pride in working with Roundhay Park: “It’s one of the biggest parks in Europe, so I’m really proud doing it there.”
He said that the lifelike and larger-than-life sculptures bring a touch of magic, particularly for children, encouraging them and adults alike to be imaginative and curious.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for climate, energy, environment, and green space, praised the wood-carved artworks, stating they “make a wonderful addition to the park.”
The Reliance, a much missed North Street site, is being brought back to life as The Smithfield.
The Smithfield is set to be a new social eatery and pub focused on seasonal, produce-led dining.
Set to open its doors to the people of Leeds in early April, The Smithfield will pay homage to the local area through both its produce and people.
The venue will focus on proper plates of seasonal ingredients, pairing a relaxed dining style with a strong sense of community. Sounds pretty brilliant if you ask us.
Building on the legacy of North Street, The Smithfield is a collaborative project between Yorkshire brewery Crooked Brewing and chef James Donovan.
Images: Supplied
Steve Dawson, co-founder of Crooked Brewing, has long admired The Reliance and want to build on its established legacy.
“What The Reliance was doing was cutting edge for its time,” says Donovan. “We want to bring that same vision and energy into Leeds in 2026. Our aim is to pick up the culinary torch that The Reliance left behind and continue its legacy of great food in Leeds,” adds Dawson.
The Smithfield takes its name from Church Street’s historic connection to the Smithfield cattle market of the early 1800s, once located on what is now Lovell Park.
“We really want the people around us to feel that The Smithfield is their space,” says Dawson. “We want to give them a place at our table.”
We'll keep you updated with an opening date as and when we know, but we're very excited indeed.
Jungle are back and have announced a huge Leeds gig for later this year
Daisy Jackson
Modern funk and soul band Jungle are officially heading back to Leeds.
The Mercury Prize-nominated group will be performing at the First Direct Bank Arena this November, following their blistering summer on the festival circuit last year.
They'll be heading to Leeds on Saturday 21 November 2026.
Jungle was formed back in 2013 by producers and friends Josh Lloyd-Watson and Tom McFarland.
While they technically worked as a duo for years (until 2023, when touring member Lydia Kitto became an official member of the band), Jungle are known for their huge live performances.
They always fill stages with musicians and vocalists, for incredible funk n soul live shows.
The bands huge hits include Back on 74, Casio, and Busy Earnin’, from four top-10 albums including 2023’s groundbreaking Volcano.
The upcoming Leeds date forms part of the band’s upcoming world tour, which arrives in the UK in November 2026 following a string of international performances across Europe, North America, and beyond.
Fans can expect a setlist jam packed with standout tracks, including fan favourites such as ‘Volcano’ and ‘Back On 74’ and newer material from their upcoming album ‘Sunshine’, released on 14 August that continues to push the band’s signature sound forward.
With over 3.4 billion streams to their name, Jungle’s Leeds show is set to be one of the hottest tickets of 2026 so we wouldn't mess about if we were you.
Tickets for Jungle in Manchester will go on general sale from 10am on Friday 27 March, with pre-sale from 10am on Thursday 26 March.
Clementine Hall -
10th July 2024 
