CARVINGS from the wood of a rare apple tree have been made to commemorate the redevelopment of one of Barnard Castle's best-known buildings.

Craftsmen Ross Elliot, from Barnard Castle, and Cliff Brown, from Bowes, were asked to create two pieces for The Witham, which has undergone a £2.1m refurbishment.

Some of the wood they used was Applewood, taken from a rare type of apple tree called catshead – named because the shape of the fruit resembles the shape of a cat’s head.

The tree, which was in poor health, was removed from land at the rear of the building to make way for the site redevelopment.

Local resident Jo Bird, who had previously sought advice to help identify the variety of the tree, took some cuttings – known as scions – before the tree was cut down.

She then grafted the scion onto a rootstock to grow a new tree, which has now been replanted as part of the landscaping of the new site, ensuring the catshead tree will continue to grow in that location.

Wood from the old tree has been used to create two commemorative pieces for the Witham – a vase, carved by Ross Elliot, and a clock, made by Cliff Brown.

Allison Agius, chair of the Witham’s board of directors, said: “We are delighted that wood from the site has been turned into these two pieces.

“The cutting from the original trees is also doing well and it fits in nicely with the planting around the site, which includes other apple trees.”