Visitors to Withdean Woods in Brighton are sure of a big surprise.

Instead of teddy bears having a picnic you are likely to encounter a wolf, a crocodile and a giant nest lurking in the undergrowth.

The sight of the wolf of Withdean looking like it is about to pounce from the bushes is enough to startle anyone - but this one is just papier mache.

Artists have created the sculptures through the nature trail at the woods, part of the Prestonville Trail, which is attached to the Brighton Festival Open.

There is even a washing line made from leaves with a message hanging from it, suitcases up trees and a green man made of chicken wire and stuffed with ivy.

The idea is not to give people a fright but to encourage them to go to the woods and discover a wide variety of animal and plant life.

The artists also hope it will make local art more accessible.

Pauline Crook, 50, one of seven local artists responsible for the sculptures, said: "The nice thing about going through these woods is they are naturally quite magical.

"Hopefully the sculptures will make it an even more inspirational experience for people."

The mother-of-two, of Sadlers Way, Ringmer, near Lewes, said: "I have put a suitcase up a tree with a message on it.

The message declares: "Leave everything we know behind."

She said: "I am interested in the power of words and I try to express things that mean something to me in some of my art.

"This message has two meanings. One way of looking at it is telling people to start afresh or another way is when you die you leave behind everything that you know.

"With another piece of my work I have dressed a tree with a T-shirt on it. The tree naturally looks like a person with their arms up in the air."

She said she has put a message on it saying: "I do not believe in limitation."

She said: "We have not finished all the sculptures yet. We will carry on through the festival building things."

Fellow artist Chris Cook, 48, of Clifton Place, Brighton, put up his leaf washing line to display the message: "Seize the time".

The woods are jointly owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust and managed by The Withdean, Westdene and Eldred Avenue Copse Keepers.

Throughout May, there will be guided walks through the woods every Sunday at 2.30pm from the Withdean Road entrance but people are able to visit at any time.

There is also a chance to meet the artists on May 19 at 2.30pm.