A material led exploration of the Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

Funded by an Artist Bursary from A-N The Artists Information Company. 

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With the help of local wildlife guide and Ecologist, Tom Forward, I spent a few days exploring and researching the rural landscape of the Ashdown Forest. Having relocated my studio practice to this area I wanted to understand and gain knowledge of the species and ecosystem that create this specific environment. Walking the Forest with Tom, I learnt of the flora and fauna specific to this area and we discussed the conservation strategy in place to protect this ecosystem. Whilst walking we compiled a good and bad list of species that either contribute positively or negatively to the landscape. Walking in early early spring and Mid summer allowed us to explore the forests resources across seasons and taught me to identify species at different stages of there life cycle. 

With this deeper understanding and connection to the local wildlife I was able to further explore the area on daily walks, visually identifying a new localised material palette. Taking a few fallen, dead or invasive materials at a time I slowly built a library of colour and fibre in response to place. This project forms the very beginning of an ongoing material led investigation into localised resources and place based making.