Skip to content

First trees planted in living artwork woodland

Sarah TurnnidgeBristol
News imageAlexander Turner Luke stands in a black jacket and black flat cap, smiling at the camera. There are three smiling children in front of him, all in winter coats, one of whom is holding a spade. There is a grassy open space behind them, and the sky is grey. Alexander Turner
The first trees of Luke Jerram's (centre) new Echo Wood were planted by primary school children

The first saplings have been planted as part of one of the UK's first living tree artworks, which will take up to 100 years to complete.

Year Six pupils from Marksbury Primary School were the first to officially break ground at Echo Wood, the new project by Bristol artist Luke Jerram.

When complete, the woodland will feature 365 different trees planted in a circular pattern. It will sit at the heart of what is to become Lower Chew Forest, a 420-acre former farm between Bristol and Bath.

Ten-year-old Henry, who was among the group planting the trees, said it felt "overpowering" to be part of the project, adding: "I think these woods will be around forever and really inspire people."

As well as the art installation, the woodland will have an entertainment space at its centre for live performances and music.

The site was bought by the charity Avon Needs Trees in 2024, and hundreds of volunteers of all ages have been working to create the new forest.

News imageHenry and Rebecca smile at the camera. Henry has a green and black winter coat on and his hood on, and black square-framed glasses. Rebecca has long blonde hair, round glasses and a red headband. She wears a black coat. Both of them are muddy, and the field behind them is clearly wet.
Henry (left) and Rebecca (right) joined volunteers to help plant the first trees

Jerram, known for his large-scale installations like Museum of the Moon and turning Bristol's Park Street into a giant water slide said it was "extraordinary" to see the progress at the site.

"This artwork will really build a sense of place for the community, and I'm hoping [...] as generations arrive there's a real sense of ownership and a sense that this woodland belongs to them and their community," he said.

Eleven-year-old Lily said the aims of the project were "really important", adding: "It's lovely to see woodlands everywhere.

"I think because we've been gifted this great place [the Earth] so we have to look after it otherwise it's not going to stay here for much longer."

News imageTricia wears a yellow high-vis vest, a red raincoat, a black rain hat, gloves and round glasses. She is smiling at the camera and holding a shovel by the handle up at the camera.
Tricia Hillier resigned from her job in September to train as a volunteer leader for the project

As well as children from the local primary school, a group of volunteers braved the rain to plant around the Lower Chew Forest site as part of their mission to get tens of thousands of trees in the ground over the course of the year.

Tricia Hillier, 58, resigned in September from her job at the North Bristol NHS Trust - where she led the sustainability team - the day after visiting the Echo Wood site.

"One of the team here said 'oh you'd be a great volunteer leader, why don't you join?' so I resigned the next day and here I am, coming every week.

"It was just the catalyst to do something different," she added.

"What we've got to do is protect the areas that we can. I think it's wonderful that Avon Needs Trees has managed to purchase the farm [...] and actually safeguard it for the future. It's really incredibly important."

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story
Related internet links
More from the BBC