Tim Bushe discovered his talent when his wife asked him to trim the hedge outside their house into the shape of a cat. Today, his elephant sculptures have become a landmark on the corner of Ambler Road and Romilly Road.
“The elephants have become an attraction. I’ve known taxi drivers to give directions using them as a landmark,” he said.
With around 20 sculptures under his belt – most of which are in Islington – his flair for topiary has raised £10,235 over the last six years for HfT, a charity that works with people with learning disabilities and looks after his sister Martha who has Down’s syndrome.
Tim designs and cuts each sculpture for a £200 donation and does several follow-up shaping cuts throughout the year at £75 per visit.
He is usually the one who decides what he will sculpt, unless there is a specific request. “I always want to do something I’ve never done before – I’d never do the same sculpture twice,” he said.
Branching away from sculpting mainly animals, he is currently working on a hedge inspired to resemble Henry Moore’s ‘Reclining Nude’, as well as a giant head inspired by the works of Ron Mueck.
As the sculptures have to be pruned three times a year, Tim is currently looking to recruit somebody to help him with maintaining them.
You can donate to HfT via Mr Bushe’s justgiving page here.
