SIX months on from its launch, a landmark living artwork in the Chew Valley has raised more than £100,000 for woodland creation charity Avon Needs Trees.

The groundbreaking Echo Wood has been created in collaboration with internationally acclaimed artist Luke Jerram, and has helped to support the charity's biggest planting season ever with 70,000 trees planted since November.

The public's generous sponsorship has also helped power the establishment of the wider woodland at the Lower Chew Forest site.

The artwork, a sculptural grove of 365 trees is not only taking shape as a landmark cultural destination but creating permanent woodland for people and wildlife at the heart of Somerset’s new forest.

A mock-up of the sculptural grove of 365 trees that will make up Echo Wood in Lower Chew Forest.
A mock-up of the sculptural grove of 365 trees that will make up Echo Wood in Lower Chew Forest. (Enviral Large)

Supporters have taken the opportunity to leave personalised messages of joy, remembrance and optimism which will live on alongside their sponsored tree.

These messages are forever entwined with the artwork and both the words and the trees themselves and will stand as a unique record of artistic collaboration and hope for future generations. Sponsors of 12 English Oak, and 80 Crab Apple that make up the two inner rings of Echo Wood have all been invited to visit the site to help plant their trees.

Among those who have joined were representatives of Triodos Bank UK, who have 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 Mark Clayton, CEO who was on site to help plant one of the central oaks at the very heart of Echo wood.

Triodos Bank UK are supporting the project with a £3.85m locan and were on site to plant a central Oak in Echo Wood.
Triodos Bank UK are supporting the project with a £3.85m locan and were on site to plant a central Oak in Echo Wood. (Avon Needs Trees)

“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 aims for the artwork are the same as for Lower Chew Forest; to increase woodland cover in a nature depleted region. The 422-acre site will be home to 100,000 native trees and shrubs, alongside wetlands, orchards and species-rich habitats. Together, these will support biodiversity, store carbon and help reduce flood risk, while creating a new accessible green space for local communities.

With this hugely successful planting season now drawn to a close, many of the sponsored trees are now in the ground. The public are invited to continue sponsoring the final trees of Echo Wood to fund vital work and keep the forest growing into next year.

Supporters will be the first to hear of any new exciting developments the charity is planning including a bespoke time capsule which will soon be revealed, they say, adding as Lower Chew Forest takes root, Echo Wood is proof that art and community action can come together to grow a living legacy for generations to come.

Find out more and sponsor a tree at echo-wood.co.uk