In a quiet cul-de-sac in London’s Islington district, Tim Bushe stands with his hedge trimmer, meticulously shaping what appears to be an ordinary hedge. But step back, and you’ll see his creation is anything but ordinary. It’s a massive, neatly pruned topiary in the shape of a giant locomotive.
“It all started with my wife Philippa,” Bushe recalls, pausing in his work. “She’d sit in the living room and look out at the hedge, demanding I shape it into a cat.”
Instead, she got the train. That was more than 15 years ago. Philippa Bushe had long since passed, losing her battle with breast cancer seven years ago, but Tim has carried on the whimsical tradition she inspired. It began with helping a neighbor trim his hedge, and from there, his artistry grew, as did his tribute to his late wife. “It’s her legacy,” says Bushe, who works as an architect when he’s not creating hedge sculptures.
Over time, his creations have expanded beyond his own garden. In addition to the locomotive, he’s sculpted hedges into elephants, fish, a hippo, and even a recreation of Henry Moore’s iconic “Reclining Nude.” Each new creation brings joy to the neighborhood, and none more so than for Polly Barker, who lives in the house displaying the “Reclining Nude.”
“I was worried the neighbors might not appreciate it, but it’s become quite the tourist attraction,” Barker says. Beyond the joy they bring, Bushe’s hedge sculptures serve another purpose. With each new commission, he raises funds for various charities, particularly those focused on environmental causes.
“My sister has Down syndrome, and I’ve raised around £10,000 for the organization that cares for her,” he shares. Bushe sees his hedge-trimming as both an art form and a form of remembrance, letting the shape of the hedge guide him.
“I find the form within the hedge,” he says.
And as long as he can climb a ladder, Bushe plans to continue his leafy tributes to Philippa’s creative spirit. “If she were still here, she’d be fascinated by how much this has taken off.”
