Peacock butterfly

This small wooden peacock butterfly stands beside the path through Boscombe's Woodland Walk, shaped by chainsaw artist Tom Harvey, who works under the professional name Carver Harvey and turns timber salvaged on site into wildlife sculptures.

One piece of a larger trail

Along Woodland Walk, the tree-lined reserve that links Boscombe's high street to the clifftop above the beach, several other carved creatures join the peacock butterfly. Further along these paths, look out for Harvey's woodpecker, wood mouse, stag beetle and woodlouse pieces, as well as his larger Tree of Life sculpture and a hand-carved welcome marker. All of this sits within a broader refurbishment of the reserve carried out across 2025 and 2026, paid for through the Towns Fund and Community Infrastructure Levy, which also brought a wildlife pond, a sensory garden and fresh nature trail signage.

Visiting

Standing in open parkland with no gates or entry fee, the sculpture is free to view whenever you like. It's a worthwhile short detour for anyone exploring Boscombe on foot, combine it with a walk through Woodland Walk itself, or discover more of the area in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.

Peacock butterfly good to know

What's the Peacock Butterfly piece found in Boscombe?

A wooden peacock butterfly shaped using a chainsaw, this is one of a series of wildlife carvings by artist Tom Harvey placed along Woodland Walk, the nature reserve that links Boscombe high street to the clifftop above the beach.

Who made the carving?

Tom Harvey, working under the name Carver Harvey, carved it from timber brought down by wind along Woodland Walk. His other pieces along the same route include a woodpecker, a wood mouse, a stag beetle and a woodlouse, plus a larger Tree of Life sculpture and a carved welcome marker.

Is there any cost to view the sculpture?

None at all. Set in open parkland on Woodland Walk with no admission fee, it can be viewed at any time while walking through the reserve.

Where does it stand?

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