It was too hot last week to spend much time outdoors. But with the temps dropping to the seasonable 80s I may wander around town, maybe grab a coffee, and sit on a park bench for some people watching. If you feel inspired to do the same but don’t know where to go, use OpenBenches to find a suitable spot nearby. If you live in the United Kingdom, you may be overwhelmed by the number of options. Don’t worry, Samuel Wilmot has been rating benches in the UK since 2019, basing his reviews on comfort, appearance, and surroundings.
“This bench was installed in Chipping Sodbury just over a week ago, and it’s an absolute delight. I have insight knowledge from its creator @andyoneill_woodcarver to explain the features and carvings on the bench. It’s carved from Giant Redwood hence it’s gorgeous colour, the Ammomites at the base depict the nearby quarrying, the waves in the seat represents the river Frome, and the birds carved into the back rest a Dipper, House Martin, Kingfisher and Wagtail, are found nearby. The bench exhibits earth, water and air. It’s an unbelievable piece of craftsmanship, the seat is deep set, the arm rests (my favourite bit) are a fantastic size for getting comfortable, the back is to a great height too and the base was suitable. It’s a shame the bin in shot blocks out another great piece of carving. Thoroughly enjoyed this one, 8/10.”
I think it’s a charming hobby and Mr. Wilmot seems like a lovely man providing a service we didn’t even know we needed.
How’s your Monday morning so far, Deadsplinters?
Cheers to Mr. Wilmot!
He seems like a good guy.
The word “hero” gets thrown around a lot these days, but Samuel Wilmot? HERO.
I love that he had his nanna do a guest review. Hero and all-around sweetheart.
I tried to walk around a park here yesterday at 4 pm. I also thought I might sit on one of the benches and relax by the lake. Lasted about a quarter-mile and less that 15 minutes before the heat made me give up. I typically walk 2 miles every day, but that’s in the morning, and even then I come back sweating buckets.
I’ve been getting up early and walking Fanny around sunrise. We do roughly three miles and it’s usually unbearable by the time we get home.
What a wholesome and lovely hobby. Following him on IG to balance out the doom on my feed. Honorable mention goes to his girlfriend who takes most of the pictures.
Right? It’s so sweet.
I want my legacy to be a bench along a trail or boardwalk somewhere nice.
I love that idea. It’s always nice sit on a bench with plaque and wonder who the person was and whose lives they inspired.
I’d like to have one at the dog park 🙂
Much better than being a memorial trash can.
Or a truck window.
or a portapotty
Or a wastewater treatment lagoon….
That’s so funny 😂
I too though would like a Koala Chlamydia Ward named after me!
https://www.gq.com/story/john-oliver-koala-std-clinic
i’m a little disappointed he doesn’t self identify as a bench tester
anyways…he can come to my town and test the social sofa
which i previously thought was for social people looking to have a chat….but its actually a hobby project for the lonely elderly who lay the mozaik and i assume have a few weeks of chatty hobby crafty time and make friends….they’ve been popping up all over the country
I think he’s done some outside of the UK now but I don’t have an Instagram account so I can’t be sure. But I like the Social Sofa idea too. 🙂
Social Sofa is much more practical than Moose in the City.
Antlers were separate but attached to the moose sculptures. As a result, many were stolen throughout the exhibit, each weighing 2.5 kilograms.[12] As of 22 June, 43.5 of 115 missing antlers were “unaccounted for”, and three entire moose were missing.[12] Once vandalism of the moose started, the city started a hotline for moose abuse tips, with messages checked every night.[13]
this shouldnt be funny to me….but it really is….especially the moose abuse part
😂 a designated moose abuse hotline. We definitely have our priorities straight.
We have this with horses all over the city.