A BRAND new sculpture has been erected in celebration of a Hereford city landmark.

On July 11 1969, as NASA prepared the launch of Apollo 11 for what was to be man’s first walk on the moon, a lasting Hereford landmark was unveiled.

Walenty Pytel, at that time a young artist just starting his career as a sculptor, was commissioned by Hereford cidermaker Bulmers to create a sculpture that acknowledged its famous Woodpecker cider brand.

The Woodpecker was Pytel’s first major free-standing welded sculpture and Pytel went on to become a prolific artist, recognised as one of the world’s leading metal sculptors of birds and animals.

Two of his best-known pieces are the Silver Jubilee Fountain in New Palace Yard outside the Houses of Parliament, and Take Off on the approach roundabout to Birmingham airport.

Polish-born Pytel has lived in Herefordshire for most of his life and a lot of his work can be found adorning Herefordshire’s towns, villages and countryside, as well as the City of Hereford.

Exactly 50 years on from his first major commission, 78-year-old Pytel will officially unveil his latest sculpture Kingfisher with Minnow on July 11.

This has been commissioned by the Cider Museum to celebrate the contribution of Pytel’s art to Herefordshire’s cultural landscape and cider’s role in kick-starting his career.

The sculpture was acquired with Section 106 developer funding and through Pytel’s generosity in accepting the commission.

At the same time, an exhibition will open at the Cider Museum focusing upon how The Woodpecker came about fifty years ago, and the railway heritage of the site near the Museum on which Kingfisher with Minnow stands.

There will be sculptures and prints on display from Pytel’s extensive body of work, including previously unseen pieces, as well as a selection of material from the Museum’s own collections.

The exhibition, which will run until the end of August, has been supported by the Pippin Trust and the Walenty Pytel Gallery.

The renowned sculptor was spotted overseeing the installation of his stunning creation by Hereford Times Camera Club member Ron Morris.