Moseley Statue

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How is this a gift?

It’s a gift because we’re organising it, getting it off the ground, spending a lot of our time and effort to help transform what a lot of people have only dreamt about and passed comment about over the past 9 years. Take a look at the history of how we got to where we are on the rest of the website. That will help you understand.

It’s also a gift as the Moseley people do not HAVE to pay for it out of their rates. Most of the money will be from businesses and people from around the world – who have a great interest in all things Tolkien – who want to have their name subscribed to it and engraved on the leaves beneath the Ent.

The initial money was voted for by the Forum – there was a public meeting where this was discussed (9000 leaflets went out about the meeting last Feb) and it was agreed to spend some of the profits from the Farmers’ Market on it as this had been asked for at 3 other public meetings before. This is therefore also a gift to Moseley, the money having come from the farmers.

2. What connection does the proposed statue have with the local architecture of the proposed site?

Good point. It doesn’t have to. The point about art is that it always says something and if it’s on the right scale, can rise above the architecture not compete. Take a look at the architecture elsewhere. For example in Birmingham in Victoria square. None of it is connected to the 19 th century buildings except Queen Victoria . So where do the Egyptian sculptures or the rusty Iron Man relate to? It’s the same in London and every city. If the Ent was small it would look like clutter and detract from the buildings. Only by being big enough can it be detached from it and stand on its own merit.

3. What connection has the Tolkien theme with the centre of Moseley?

First, the family lived in Moseley village centre after living in Wake Green Rd. As a young adult he frequented the Prince of Wales Pub. You don’t put a statue hidden away on the edge of a place if you want the place to be identified as the place where he grew up.

Second, the Moseley Business Association (out of which the Moseley Statue Group was borne) wanted to find a way to use the Tolkien Connection to encourage people into the centre of Moseley. This can’t be done by putting hidden in a Private Park or away from the centre.

Thirdly, nowhere in Birmingham should Tolkien be more celebrated than in Moseley – the place where he says that he owes his inspiration for Lord of the Rings. And nowhere at present is that celebrated in Moseley, apart from Sarehole Mill near Moseley Bog, both on the edge of Moseley. For nine years people have been expressing their desire to do that. Only now with the forming of this group has that become achievable.

4. Has any thought been given to the size and scale of the sculpture in relation to its surroundings?

Being an Ent it has to be in sympathy with the trees. After informal discussion with the local planning officer and conservation officer, it was felt that the best position would be in the centre and the height to be about 20 ft which is the height of the old fashioned lampposts (5 ft less than the trees). If it was smaller it would add to the clutter of the area and would be dangerous in that it could be climbed. If larger, at 20 ft, then it’s possible to make the legs un-climbable before the arms could be reached.

5. What impact this would have on the other uses of the space it is intended to occupy?

Its position on the Green is such that the present Farmers’ Market would not be affected by it: the space it takes up is equivalent to that of approximately one central stall. This would still leave room for pedestrian flows and the other central stall. People would also be able to walk under it between the legs. It would be more vertical than expansive horizontally.

It would not interfere with either a Christmas Tree or the Church’s Cross at Easter.

6. Are there any other alternative proposals in terms of design or location?

Over the past 4 years, various designs have been considered and may possibly be used later in other locations. The Ent is the latest and seems most acceptable – and is also iconic and dramatic – and would obtain the greatest response in terms of sponsorship. The Ent also the character that most epitomises Moseley out of all of them in the Lord of the Rings. – Green, keeper of trees, caring about the environment and conservation, friendly and against exploitation.

Other locations have been considered: all except the Green don’t meet the aim of attracting people into the centre:

Moseley Bog – but we don’t want to attract too many people there

Sarehole Mill – they already have plans for a Tolkien Centre in what has now been named the Shire Park . It seems wrong to put everything in one place when JRR lived in several places in Moseley.

The private park – out of the way and only open to the select few who pay

Meteor Ford site – not bad but off the main centre plus the redevelopment of the site precludes something like this at the moment.

Boots corner – too much of a distraction to traffic

7. How have you consulted people?

Our consultation has been wide – leafleting the whole of Moseley (9000 homes), Forum public meetings, Moseley Society AGM, the Moseley Business Association (formerly the Moseley Traders) Public Meeting/AGM, the Tolkien Weekend (8000 people plus), two Farmers’ Markets (about 3000 plus people?) and finally all the traders in the village of whom only one is against.

8. Who would 'own' your creation?

The land is owned by the council, the statue will initially be owned by the Statue Group whilst long term arrangements are agreed. In the same way the Iron Man in Victoria Square was a gift to Birmingham by a local Bank and owned by the council.

9. What Health and Safety implications have you identified?

Tim Tolkien and the council are obviously very aware of Health & Safety. Tim’s other public works such as the 60 ft Spitfire Island (which the council ‘own’) have all had to go through Health and safety checks: this is part of the planning process. We have already had meetings with planners and conservation and they are happy for us to proceed, knowing that these points are dealt with in their deliberations and discussions.