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Living artwork inspires charity’s biggest tree planting season
An artwork that will emerge over time as the trees forming its design grow has inspired record-breaking tree planting this winter for Bristol-based charity Avon Needs Trees.
Artist Luke Jerram is no stranger to environment-themed works, internationally touring his anatomically-accurate representations of the moon, Mars, Earth and the sun, or ‘Helios’, which was installed for a period in Knowle’s Jubilee swimming pool.
But his woodland project is remarkable in that it will only reach full completion after he is gone.
Jerram designed Echo Wood, a 110-metre wide installation comprising spiralling avenues of 365 native trees with a central meeting place, to represent the cyclical nature of life and time as well as to tackle climate change and as a legacy project providing nature connection opportunities for future generations.
It is part of the Lower Chew Forest, a 422 acre site in Compton Dando that alongside 100,000 trees and shrubs will eventually host wetlands, orchards and wildlife habitat.
The response to the project has been overwhelmingly positive, prompting the charity’s biggest ever winter planting season which has seen 70,000 trees go in the ground since November 2025 after public sponsorship raised over £100,000 for the artwork.
Major donors have sponsored the 80 crab apples and 12 English oaks that make up the inner ring of the sculptural grove, including Triodos Bank who also supported the Lower Chew Forest project with a £3.85 million loan.
“Much of what we do at Triodos is about legacy and creating lasting value for people and planet,” said CEO Mark Clayton, CEO who helped plant one of the central oaks. “We’re sponsoring this oak tree to recognise the work and commitment of our co-workers at Triodos past, present, and future.
“I hope our oak stands for many generations and acts as a reminder of the positive impact Triodos, and our customers and like-minded organisations, continue to have in the world. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Avon Needs Trees and seeing their projects thrive.”
The convergence of community, nature and creativity at the heart of Jerram’s collaborative project with Avon Needs Trees has inspired people to get involved on a bigger scale than ever before – photo: Alex Turner
Inhabiting its role as a community resource, supporters were invited to leave messages for future generations to be connected with their sponsored tree.
Avon Needs Trees said they have received messages ‘of joy, remembrance and optimism’ from primary school children, local choirs and businesses that include testaments to Bristol rave culture and beloved pets.
There are still opportunities to get involved with the project at echo-wood.co.uk
Main image: Enviral
Read next:
- Invitation open to take part in Luke Jerram’s living artwork
- ‘Tree protection law is no longer fit for purpose’
- Walking to be celebrated as ‘creative and cultural act’
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