Where should you put a wooden carving in the garden?
Put it outside in full shade, on a well-drained spot, away from direct sunlight and any heat source. That is the position that keeps the wood drying slowly and evenly, which is what reduces splits.
Good places
- Under a tree or large shrub that gives shade all day
- A shaded border or a bed on the shady side of the house or a fence
- Beside a shed, wall or hedge that keeps the sun off it
- A raised, free-draining spot such as gravel or a paving slab
Places to avoid
- Direct sun, including a spot that is shaded in the morning but sunny in the afternoon
- Next to a heat source, such as a patio heater, fire pit, chimney or stove
- A south-facing wall, which stores and gives off heat
- Low ground where water collects, because wood left standing in water stays wet
Why shade matters so much
Each carving is cut from a single log that is still slowly drying. Sun and heat make it dry unevenly and fast, and that is what opens splits. Shade keeps it slow and even. It is also the condition of our 12-month split repair guarantee.
Can I keep a carving indoors?
We make and finish our carvings for outdoor use, and the guarantee covers carvings kept outside in full shade. We don't advise bringing one indoors near heating, because heat is what dries the wood quickly.
Bears, owls and hares
The same rule applies to every animal. Our owls look at home on a stump or beside a path in the shade, and our bears and hares suit a shady border or a doorstep out of the sun.
Quick questions
Can I put a wooden carving in the sun?
Does the ground matter?
What counts as full shade?
Written by Andrew Clark Carvings, Longhope, Forest of Dean. Last updated 7 November 2026.