Staverton Park Exhibition Project
The Arborealists with Dr George Peterken OBE
On 21 st October The Arborealists launched their third two-year site specific project (after Lady Park Wood and trees and woodland on Exmoor and Dartmoor) at Staverton Park near Woodbridge, Suffolk. The park is perhaps the oldest, ancient oak woodland in Europe. Sixteen Arborealists (more have signed up but could not make the date) met with celebrated expert and author on natural woodland, George Peterken, Suffolk County Council’s Tree Officer Gary Battell, and arborist Jamie Foster, all who know the park intimately. They gave us a fascinating tour and briefing of the park and adjacent Staverton Thicks on its history and ecology which lasted from 11 - 4pm.
There is a distinct difference between the Park and the Thicks which is quite extraordinary as they are so close together, in the soils they lie on and in their history and management. Armed with this extraordinary insider knowledge the artists are now fully inspired to make work for an exhibition in about 2 years’ time.
The project will explore all aspects of the site in partnership with Suffolk’s Coasts and Heaths AONB and their local knowledge and expertise will enrich the project substantially in ways yet to be fully determined. This autumn focus weekend will be followed up by another in the Spring of 2024 to give us a different season.
It was a wonderful gathering of the clans – the first since the pandemic when old friendships were renewed, with lots of catching up on news, and new members were welcomed into the fold. This was sealed with a superb communal pub supper at Ramsholt, another Arborealist tradition – this is our 10 th anniversary year..
We are extremely grateful to the Kemble family who own the park for this amazing opportunity and to George Peterken who came up with the idea.
Tim Craven
President, The Arborealists