Rochester's Iconic Monk is relocated within The Vines

On a beautiful spring like day, perfect for new beginnings, a well known resident of Rochester's town centre park, The Monk Statue in The Vines, has been relocated due to his unstable condition.

The huge and scary (as far as I'm concerned) Monk, carved from a fallen plane tree in the great storm of October 1987, has stood in the middle of the park since 1997 but has recently seen much deterioration due to the weather. The Vines is so called because it used to be the vineyards of the nearby St.Andrews Priory and sculptor Robert Koenig created The Monk out of one of the remaining rooted but damaged trees during the storm. 

Due to a colony of stag beetles nestled within, conservation has proven difficult, as protective veneers or chemicals would have put them at risk. The Monk has now been moved to the north western side of the Vines, in the midst of the designated stag beetle habitat, where, now laying down instead of standing tall, he'll hopefully be a little more protected from the elements.

Fern Alder from the Friends of the Vines was on hand to oversee today's relocation and is thrilled that all went to plan. She said: "The original plan wasn't to leave the Monk rooted in the middle but was, in fact, to place him where he now resides, within the stag beetle habitat. The move had to happen - I could actually lean against him and feel him move, so it's best we did something sooner rather than later!" She praised the tree surgeons, A Cut Above Tree Services, for their care taken in the delicate operation - they were very concerned the head might fall off when they first took a look at him!

All agreed that the Monk is still a feature and is looking good in his new home. You can view a gallery of pictures here, courtesy of Fern (with a few thrown in from me) who recorded the move for posterity!

Fern, in her role for the Full Frontal group, has also organised a plant donation and swap day in The Vines, so that the traders and residents in the High Street, from the Bridge down to Sun Wharf, are given help to organise themselves into a group aiming for 'In Bloom' standard. The entry has been sent and now the work begins! For more information on Full Frontal aims and activities, please visit their website here.