This portfolio was exhibited at the Royal Horticultural Society Botanical Art & Photography Show in 2019 and awarded an RHS Silver Gilt Medal.
It demonstrates the diversity of shape and forms of the Common Beech tree, Fagus sylvatica in the City of London Corporation’s Epping Forest. The images were taken during my one-year artist residency called ‘You Can’t See the Trees for the Woods’. Whilst there I encountered many awe-inspiring lapsed Beech pollards (characteristic of Epping Forest), ancient multi-stemmed coppice stools with eroded roots, and a combination of both called coppards. These coppards are lapsed coppice stools which have also been pollarded at a later date and are believed to be hundreds of years old. Interestingly these small groups of trees are genetically identical, and all come into leaf at exactly the same time, does this make them one big tree?
During my trips to Epping Forest I would often spend an hour photographing just one tree. I would walk around to see how the light interplayed with its shape, quirky form and varied textures. I would listen to the surrounding sounds, watch the wildlife and smell the earthy forest aroma. The longer I was there the more I understood the different characteristics of each tree so I could make the individual stand out from the crowded forest.
Marion Sidebottom
on December 19, 2020Thank you. The best person for you to contact is Dr Jeremy Dagley who is the Head of Conservation at Epping Forest. He is based at The Warren. Thanks for your comment The Green Revivial
The Green Revival
on December 18, 2020I personally would say one or perhaps a combination of 1-3 plants. My genetic analysis - albeit an innovative test - of one group showed an individual beech making up the 'ring' of pollards. What an incredible part of the forest. I would be so happy if we could ascertain roughly when coppicing was initiated? Superb photos as ever Marion.