A new wood carving in the gardens of Talland Bay Hotel is set to encourage visitors to explore the area’s connections with Wind in the willows.

Fans of Kenneth Grahame’s popular novel will know that the story was inspired by the author’s holidays in nearby Fowey, from where he took a boat trip to Lerryn and spent a day messing about on the water.

When a large pine tree in the Talland Bay Hotel grounds had to be felled, this local literary legacy led to a bright idea for General Manager Jack and the team.

“The role that the Fowey Estuary and Lerryn played in sparking Grahame’s story was partly why we wanted to create a wind in the willows wood carving,” explains Jack. “But I also wanted to pay tribute to my wife’s grandmother, who was born in Lerryn and is still with us at the ripe old age of 91.”

The team reached out to local woodsman Brendan Knott who took two sections of the tree and turned them into animal carvings along with a standalone monolith depicting Grahame’s characters. Now Mole, Ratty, Badger and Toad are standing proud, rising from the original tree stump.

Visitors keen to explore Grahame’s legacy further can follow a South West Coast Path Wind in the Willows circular route taking in some of the beautiful countryside around the River Fowey.

Or better yet, take a cruise upriver with Fowey River and Sea Cruises (available from April).

Take advantage of the Spring Garden Break and enjoy three nights from £450 per person, including accommodation in a Classic Room, dinner and canapes each evening, a Talland Bay own blend gin and tonic on arrival, cream tea for two, delicious full Cornish breakfast each morning and tickets to the Lost Gardens of Heligan to see the spring blooms. Available March to May 2023.