Following the creation of the Potager Goddess at Cloudehill, Jeremy floated the idea of a forest guardian figure protecting the lower, wilder area of Cloudhill. He imagined a troll like creature peeping menacingly from a clump of bamboo. A couple of maquettes were made to help crystallise the ideas. In the most promising model the guardian was clutching a stout cudgel – think Badger in the wild wood. After a gestation period of a few years a site was found at the other end of the mountain overlooking the Sherbrooke forest. The guardian might be expected to protect the forest from storm and fire damage. We had just seen Teddy Tahu Rhodes in Don Giovanni, so the image of a stern ghost of the Commendatore seemed more relevant than a troll for forest protection. But still armed with a Badger type stout cudgel.

As usual, we pushed the boundaries of what is technically possible and artistically desirable. However, firing on this occasion to about 1200°C, the outcome was more or less acceptable. Resolved next time to use a more open clay, to use more internal bracing and to fire only to about 1100°C to allow quicker aging with attendant lichen growth.