These tiny wooden surprises are winning hearts across Eastville Park
Whittling Jimmy and his creations which have been turning heads across the South West
It started with a small knife, a sliver of wood, and a dash of curiosity. Now, in the quiet corners of Eastville Park in East Bristol, tiny hand-carved animals and whimsical figures keep appearing—tucked into trees, perched on benches, or simply resting on logs—delighting unsuspecting passers-by. Their maker? A mystery. But to those in the know, he goes by one name only: Whittling Jimmy.
“I would prefer to stay anonymous,” Jimmy tells us, explaining his choice to work under a pseudonym. “Honestly, I feel it adds more intrigue to the idea of leaving the whittles, and I like the idea that people think it could be anyone leaving them behind.”
What began as a personal creative outlet has grown into a quiet local legend, earning whispers of admiration and heartfelt thank-yous from across the community. But behind each tiny sculpture lies a story of craftsmanship, care, and an ever-growing desire to brighten someone’s day—one whittle at a time.
Whittling Jimmy and his creations which have been turning heads across the South West
From Hobby to Hidden Treasure
Jimmy first picked up whittling at the start of the year. Like many who stumbled into a new skill during periods of reflection or quietude, he started small. Early pieces were gifts for friends and family—a miniature version of his boss’s dog among them. The reaction? Pure joy.
“Each of them were always so grateful and so happy with the gifts I had given,” Jimmy recalls. But eventually, the list of recipients grew thin and his shelves grew crowded. That’s when a new idea struck: why not leave these creations where strangers could stumble upon them?
And so, Eastville Park became his canvas.
“I came up with the idea of leaving behind treats in the park for passersby,” he explains. It was a simple gesture, but one that resonated far beyond what he expected.
Whittling Jimmy and his creations which have been turning heads across the South West
Joy in the Unexpected
The whittles themselves are varied—tiny penguins, birds, woodland creatures, and more fanciful fare like swimmers or a monkey nursing a pint. But it’s not just the craft that charms people; it’s the delight of the unexpected.
“There’s many reasons for leaving my whittles in the park,” Jimmy says. “A lot of my models fit the park environment. From tiny mice, penguins or a robin, leaving them hidden in a log or next to a tree seems to fit quite nicely.”
Another of his creations
Yet the real magic lies in the human reactions these carvings spark. There was the swimmer left near an abandoned swimming pool, later claimed and cherished. Or the Easter bunny, left with a sign declaring it “Magical Bunny, in need of a new home.” Jimmy, nearby and unnoticed, witnessed the moment a young girl discovered it.
“She begged her mum to let her take it,” he says. “When given permission, she quickly picked it up and skipped down the path with it.” That single, fleeting moment was enough to fuel his desire to keep going.
“Just seeing that… urged me to want to do more and keep providing a little surprise bit of happiness.”
Some responses reach him through word of mouth or Facebook posts. Others remain mysteries.
“There’s a lot of whittles I don’t hear back from, but even that fills me with intrigue,” he says. “I have no idea where they’ve ended up.”
Then there are moments that stop him in his tracks. Like the message he received from a woman whose daughter found a robin in the park.
“She revealed to me that her mother had sadly recently passed,” Jimmy says. “Robins were her mother’s favourite, and finding it made her day. Honestly, hearing that was quite surreal for me… I didn’t even comprehend that kind of meaning would be possible.”
The ambition behind his project is also growing
Looking Ahead: From Whittle to Trail
While Jimmy’s craftsmanship continues to improve, the ambition behind his project is also growing. A recent Facebook post sharing his work brought a wave of encouragement, confirming the impact he’s had—often silently—on so many in the community.
“It’s really spurred me to want to do many more park leaves,” he says.
He’s now exploring environmentally friendly glue options, aiming to create semi-permanent installations. Imagine a tiny elf peeking out from a tree hollow, or a bird eternally perched on a park bench, part of the landscape yet telling a secret story to those who spot it.
“There’s also talk of doing a potential trail with some of my pieces,” he adds. “Whilst that’s still a far ways away, the thought of doing that one day does really appeal to me.”
Whittling Jimmy and his creations which have been turning heads across the South West
The idea of a whittling trail—a hidden treasure hunt through Bristol’s green spaces—feels like a natural next step.
“I’m still at the beginning of my whittling journey,” he says. “But the fact that I, in learning and practising my new hobby, can add a tiny bit of joy to someone else’s day… that’s more than enough reward.”