The Red Cone sculpture is sometimes called the egg, and this in a way is quite appropriate, since it was made from the remains of a vandalised giant bird. The bird laid the egg, so to speak. It is also like a red acorn. The artist, however, based the shape on a real red cone found in Africa, called the Encephalartos Ferox, a spiky, endangered plant. It has an unnatural feel about it, and fits in with the industrialised landscape, with its strong artificial colour. Close up it is a series of brick-like pieces of wood, one thousand, in fact, and it looks as though it is made from Lego. It is a "closed form" sculpture, meaning you can't see into it or through it and you must go round it to see all sides. It is hollow, but looks as though it could be solid from its appearance.

Stand back from it and see it all.
Look at it really closely, feel its structure, knock on it.
Look at the things behind it and the things around it - plants, trees, vegetation, the electricity pylons. These contrast with its colour. Look up into the pylon and imagine the open form structure of the Bird it was made from.

What is it made of? Wood, screws, glue and paint.

Which of these materials are natural? Wood

How was it made and how long did it take? The artist made a model first out of plasticine. The pieces were cut with a saw and gradually built up round a central pole, each piece screwed and glued. Some cross pieces of wood were used to strengthen the work. Another coat of paint was added.

How many pieces of wood are in it? About 1000.

Does it look natural? No, but it sort of represents a natural thing. If you were familiar with real red cones it might look natural but it would be too large?

How do you know this is not real? It's materials and size.

What things does it most look like? Cones, acorns, eggs.

What does this tell us? It tells us things about itself - what it is made of and that it is man made and that organic things are different.

Is it beautiful? Yes and no. Ask why. Children to give an answer or an opinion.

Will it decay like a flower? No, not as quickly, but the wood will rot in time.

How can we make one out of natural materials? With mud, with sticks, with flat stones.

How does this sculpture differ from others you have seen? Shape, colour form, positioning, what it might represent.

Henry Moore made many sculptures that are "closed form" - you need to see them from all sides. Andy Goldsworthy made many cones, mainly from stone, but he also used sticks, ice and even bones. Another artist to look at is Peter Randall-Page who makes huge solid shapes like this out of stone. Re-using materials is known as recycling and sustainability. At school try making cones out of pieces of coloured plasticine, gradually building the shape up. Use a pine cone as a model.