As part of the Salisbury River Park Project, I was commissioned by the Environment Agency to produce artwork for a “low sensory space”, where people could relax, reflect and connect with nature next to the river. With these instructions, I carried out a period of community engagement to determine how I might best serve these wishes.
In my conversations with local groups, schools and by carrying out a model making workshop for the space, I gathered knowledge to come up with the “Willow Bulb” concept: a ring of willow trees (which are often found growing near rivers) which, over the years, will grow into an enclosed living seating “bulb”. To get the willows to curve in this way, training over time will be necessary – so I opted to plant a large dome of willows rescued from the wider sitework up which the young pliable willows could be trained. I installed temporary seating over these young willows so they would be protected and people could still use the structure in Stage 1 of its growth:
The Bulb is now growing well and, by co-opting the help of the local Scouts group, we are keeping it well trained and on track for Stage 2.
