Having made the discovery that the cathedral Beech Tree was now a growing space for new life on the forest floor I decided that the Silver Birch might be the inspiration for the hanging tree columns in my eventual installation. I was also intrigued by the Celtic connection in ecology and legend
“When the huge glaciers of the last ice age receded, birch trees would have been one of the first to re-colonise the rocky, ice-scoured landscape. Hence, ecologists refer to birch as a pioneer species. In Celtic mythology, birch is also a tree of beginnings and came to symbolise renewal and purification. Birch or Beithe, is the first tree of the Ogham, the Celtic tree alphabet.”
I love that term pioneer species as the many unemployed men who came to Corby to work were also pioneers. On my forest walks I came across silver birches which often shed their bark. I was struck by the colours and textures and the papery nature of the peelings. A kindly tree spared me some shreds to take to show the group. The reddish lines also reminded me of stitches. Before the session I sent out a message to all who had signed up to ask them to bring any extra fabrics, threads or needles with them.
We were joined by Philippa Tipper my fellow explorer on the walk to find the Cathedral Beech tree. She was keen to meet the group and get a feel for their voices, stories, and experiences. She was also wanted to make her own piece of fabric ‘bark’ to add to the installation. I introduced the project, explained what we were aiming for and why, we had a cuppa, gave out the packs and the conversations began to flow. Phil also regaled the group with our epic walk to find the Cathedral Beech.
It was a warm, lively session and most people took their pinned pieces home to carry on slow stitching during the following week. There were buttons to share.
