Gruffalo carvings removed over copyright claims
TAMSIN TRAVISSculptures of characters from children's book The Gruffalo have been removed from a beauty spot over a copyright row.
Windermere Town Council asked for the carvings to be removed from Orrest Head after it received a letter saying it infringed copyright.
Tamsin Travis, who runs a social media account with the aim of encouraging people to visit the Lake District, said she felt "incredulity and profound disappointment" at the removal.
The council said it was trying to find a solution. Both the owners of the sculptures and Gruffalo licence holders Magic Light Pictures both declined to comment.
Ms Travis told BBC Radio Cumbria the original Gruffalo carving had been there for almost a decade "with no issue".
"It's such an important part of the local community and it's such a wonderful site for children and families to enjoy without any expectation of buying anything."
She added that she wanted to see the carvings reinstated "for families to enjoy".
suppliedThe sculptures are privately owned by a family in the area.
Production company Magic Light Pictures licenses the rights to The Gruffalo on behalf of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, who created it.
A letter from Magic Light Pictures to the town council read: "These are licensed characters and you do not have permission to use these character likenesses on your site at Orrest Head (or any other site), as such activity represents copyright infringement."
It went on to say Magic Light Pictures had an agreement with Forestry England, which had licensed trails at Whinlatter and Grizedale Forests, and the sculptures at Orrest Head conflicted with that partnership.
The company asked for pictures of the carvings so it could "determine the most appropriate next action".
Town clerk Sally Parkyn said: "All of us are working together to find a solution to what was just a mistake.
"We understand we should have thought about the copyright issue."
Forestry England has been approached for comment.