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Overview
Artists, photographers and writers will join with woodsman, craftsmen and conservationists to document, depict and demonstrate the value of trees, what they mean to us and the crucial role they play and will need to play in the future if mankind is to survive.
The hub of activity will be at the Shaftesbury Arts Centre with a visual art exhibition of tree works by five local artists curated by artist Peter Ursem, an exhibition of tree and landscape photographs by Charlie Waite and an exhibition of old photographs supplied by Shaftesbury Museum of the town’s trees taken in the 1900s alongside photos retaken in the 1980s and new ones retaken again by members of the Shaftesbury Arts Centre Camera Club in 2008/9.
International landscape photographer Charlie Waite has generously offered to give a pre-festival illustrated talk on 9 February to raise funds and give us a taste of what is to follow.
There will also be six talks, including one by Britain’s foremost living nature writer, Richard Mabey, author of ‘Beechcombings: The Narratives of Trees’ who will, no doubt, challenge our perception of trees. Evergreen folksinger, songwriter and actor Tim Laycock will give us a musical and magical celebration of trees and woods in folksong, traditional stories and the dialect poetry of Wessex.
Three films chosen by the Shaftesbury Arts Centre Film Society will be shown and the SAC Music and Drama group will put on an evening of sylvan poetry and prose and the Abbey Primary School choir will sing Tree Music, songs written by Abbey Primary School pupils with composer Karen Wimhurst.
Further Art and photographic exhibitions will also take place in two of the town’s cafes, and pupils from Shaftesbury School will exhibit their paintings of Shaftesbury’s significant trees in Westminster Memorial Hospital.
During the weekend of 18-19 April Shaftesbury’s Guildhall will host woodland, wildlife and conservation groups who will show where local walks in woods can be enjoyed. Craftsmen will show how wood from sustainably managed woodland can be made into practical artefacts, and much more.
There will be guided walks around Shaftesbury’s trees led by North Dorset District Council’s Tree Officer, and in Duncliffe Wood guided by Robin Walter of the Woodland Trust.
Commentating on the BARK! Festival, author Fay Weldon says, “We live in one of the most beautiful parts of the British Isles. It’s all too easy to get so used to it you simply cease to notice. All the more important are projects like BARK!, which remind us of our good fortune, and the necessity of guarding it. The price of natural beauty may be eternal vigilance – but you can have a good time on the way.”
We are fortunate to be in walking and cycling distance of some beautiful woods – at West Knoyle, Fifehead Magdalen, Kingsettle, Semley and Duncliffe (all Woodland Trust); Garston Wood north of Sixpenny Handley (RSPB reserve), Oyster’s Coppice near Semley (Wiltshire Wildlife Trust), Piddles Wood near Broad Oak (Dorset Wildlife Trust), Stourhead (National Trust), a growing number of Community Orchards, and privately owned woods at Wincombe Park, Ashmore, Cranborne Chase and elsewhere crossed by rights of way. We must not take these places for granted. Almost half of all woods in the UK over 400 years old have been lost in the past 80 years (Woodland Trust) and more than 600 ancient woods are now threatened by new roads and development. As well as enjoying the woodlands around us we must look after our own inheritance of trees and plant for future generations. Shaftesbury has some magnificent ash, beech, field maple, holly, lime, oak, sycamore, Scots pines and churchyard yews. But we often lack the foresight to plant trees of stature in our towns and open spaces – trees to provide habitats, shade and beauty, to lock up carbon, enhance local distinctiveness and make places. Please support the voluntary groups that are taking stalls in the Guild Hall over the weekend of 18-19 April as well as the organisations that take responsibility for looking after woodlands for nature and our enjoyment. Our survival depends on trees. www.barkfestival.co.uk
The fortnight’s activities are being organised by the Shaftesbury Tree Group and Shaftesbury Arts Centre. Shaftesbury Tree Group was established in 2002, and helps to safeguard the town's significant trees and make suggestions for future planting. shaftesburytreegroup@hotmail.co.uk Shaftesbury Arts Centre takes the lead in seeking to optimize opportunities for the community of Shaftesbury and the surrounding area to experience and take part in a high standard of the widest range of creative arts. contact@shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk www.shaftesbury artscentre.org.uk |