Dia(log)ues with Dead Wood (2022)

What can dead wood teach us about “waste”? How does it challenge what we think of as “dead” and “alive”? What could it teach us about living in relationship with each other?   

I created an alternative walking trail of Greater Stanmore Country Park, London where instead of looking to the treetops walkers are encouraged to look down to the forest floor! Not only is dead wood an essential part of the ecosystem but its very existence and processes of decay and decomposition offers inspiration and wisdom for building more co-flourishing relationships with our ecology in states of ruin.

Developed in partnership with the Wardens of Stanmore Country Park and Pear Wood we have identified eight particularly thought-provoking specimens. You’ll find a metal plaque placed next to them which is your cue to take notice and pay attention to these overlooked pieces of forest ecology. Each plaque offers some questions to contemplate and you can interpret them anyway you wish. You can also leave your thoughts that emerge on the form below. The temporary installation is a project was an off-site extension of “Grove”. Dia(log)ues with Dead Wood has emerged from durational engagement with Stanmore’s nature reserves where I engage as an artist, a volunteer and as an extension of the ecology. 

With infinite gratitude to Wardens David Rice & Margaret Huitson (Stanmore Country Park) and Claire Abbott & Rosie Etheridge (Pear Wood Ancient Woodland) for their knowledge, support and kindness.