Helix putting firm in a spin

A wooden helix that could be the largest in the world is being prepared to go on show at a wildlife sanctuary near Southwell.

The structure — 20ft by 4ft and weighing more than half a ton — is being prepared at Ken Ware Engineers Ltd, Bilsthorpe.

It will go on display at Reg Taylor’s Swan Sanctuary, Normanton.

The spiral is made of 139 pieces of red cedar and will form part of an exhibition of sculptures at the sanctuary next month.

Guinness World Records’ representatives could declare the helix the largest in the world.

It was made by artist Mr Mark Clarke (41) of Mill Lane, Brant Broughton, and is said to be worth £10,000. It will be sold after the exhibition.

He said: “I have been making helixes for 20 years. I learnt to make them in America when I went over there as a student.

“I had never seen one before I went to the States and I’d never seen them here.”

Mr Clarke said the largest helix he had previously made was 10ft.

He said: “They have just grown over the years really. I don’t know of a bigger one than the one I’ve just made.”

Mr Clarke said the hardest part would be turning each piece of timber individually to create the spiral effect.

He said: “We have covered each piece with linseed oil to protect it from the elements and hopefully it will make it easier to turn the pieces as well because they are big and quite heavy.

“I have been working out of my garage and although I had plenty of room to make all the individual pieces it was too small to assemble them.”

Mr Clarke and his family have written messages on the wood in the middle.

He said: “No one will ever see them but it’s something I thought would be nice to do.”

The helix will hang from a large metal structure made by Ken Ware Engineers.

The managing director, Mr John Ware, said they had tested the structure to hold more than a ton.

He said: “The support only just fitted in the workshop. If it had been 3mm higher it wouldn’t have fit.

“The other problem we have had is if we try and lift the structure with a crane.

“As it is it will bend in the middle and snap, so we have had to fit metal bars to it so when we lift it it won’t bend. Once it is in place we can remove the bars.”

Visitors can see the helix as soon as it is put up but the sculptures exhibition starts on August 7.