Tree in the Bay 2005 Angharad Pearce Jones   Cardiff Bay. In July 2003, Sue Essex AM, on behalf of Mr Alun Higham and the children from year 3-4 at Ysgol Gymraeg Melin Gruffydd, Whitchurch, approached CBAT the Arts & Regeneration Agency with the request to assist in the creation of an artwork to celebrate the Willow Tree at Cardiff Bay’s Waterfront, near the Norwegian Church. The children had been on a walk around Cardiff Bay and the story of the tree and the history of Cardiff’s Docks was an inspiration to them. Docklands poet Harry Cooke personally intervened to save the tree through a direct appeal to, the then Chairman of the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation, Sir Geoffrey Inkin. To Mr Cook, the tree symbolised the last contact with a living thing when the sailors departed from the Cardiff Docks and the first familiar landmark they saw on their return. The public artwork ‘Tree in the Bay’ signifies the bow of a ship fabricated from forged steel moving out to sea from the retaining sea wall. The rear of the sculpture incorporates an oak bench decorated either side by laser cuts of selected poetry by Harry Cooke and Ceri Wyn Jones, Children’s Poet Laureate (Bardd Plant Cymru) for 2003-2004.Artist Angharad Pearce Jones said: "I've worked on the project for about a year and started by going into the school to do workshops with the children. The design for the sculpture has all been instigated by the children, it was their idea, and they have been lovely to work with. Great kids and a brilliant school."