A logo design from a local artist.

This is the logo design for GWI from talented local artist. Ashley Dudley Smith. Ashley and I have worked together on this design for some time, taking it from a fledgling idea of a symbol to represent the aspirations and sustainable ethos of GWI. When I say worked together, I mean that I said to Ashley " We want something that represents the glen, warm houses, wood, simplicity and renewable sustainable cycles, also employment, community and....... Ashley looked at me and took a deep breath.

Some time later we worked through sample designs. We realised that it is difficult to have conifers and broadleaves in your logo without looking like the Forestry Commission or a similar forestry body. We observed how stylised trees, framed in a circle look like the RKO Radio mast on full broadcast mode. We also saw that the roofs of cottages made to look like mountains (representing the glen) did not really look like either.

Anyway Ashley worked on and has produced this encapsulation of the ideas of GWI. Like many of Ashley's designs, you can see more in it, the longer you look. The circle represents sustainability, and the unbroken cycle of fuelwood that thinnings and coppice can provide, while the tree, intrinsically links to nature and woodland, wood use, firewood and heat. The tree meanwhile, seems to bear the burden of the house (its environmental footprint perhaps) without strain. The chimney has no smoke emerging because with efficient modern woodburners, there pretty much is no smoke .
Well done Ashley!