The Fairies of Fisher Ave

If you go down to the Colombo Street end of Fisher Avenue, you’re in for a big surprise. Opposite St Peter’s primary school stand two remarkable trees:  a fairy house and a hobbit dwelling. Both are the work of hobby wood carver Mark Winder.

“I love watching parents stop with their children to talk about who lives inside the trees,” Mark says. “Little kids believe they are real, and it’s magical watching them chattering away to the fairies. I’ve made a small plaque for one, saying Luna’s tree. She’s my granddaughter, and although she’s only eight months, I know she’ll enjoy spending time out there when she’s older.”

Inspired by projects he’d seen on Pinterest, Mark began creating the miniature worlds two years ago on large London plane trees outside his house. He painstakingly crafted tiny windows, doors, and even small gardens with paths and picket fences.

“Every morning, I pop out to check the trees for vandalism, but we’ve not had any problems so far. A couple of weeks ago, the bridge was hanging off after a big wind, but I made a new one straight away and put it back up.

“One day, I found a small bottle on the doorstep of the fairy house. When I opened it, a tiny letter from a child said how much she loved having fairies on her street. To respond, I made a small chalkboard and wrote a message saying we were pleased she liked the trees. Now, we use that board at Christmas, Easter and Matariki to send good wishes.”

Solar fairy lights illuminate them at night, and the Hobbit tree has a face on the trunk acting as a bird feeder. Mark carved a tiny wooden bird complete with a real feather tail to encourage birds to eat the seeds.

“I work with the knots and markings on the trees to decide where to put things. I’m going to keep improving the houses. Seeing the smiles they bring to kids’ faces is magical.”

Story and pictures by Sue Kingham, 6 August, 2023